Cephalopods, Howies Scuba

Marine Life Identification Perth WA

Shore Diving

Cephalopods

A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda (Greek plural Κεφαλόποδα (kephalópoda); "head-feet"). These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles (muscular hydrostats) modified from the primitive molluscan foot... (Wikipedia)

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Octopus

Blue Ringed Octopus
(Hapalochlaena maculosa)

This little fella was taken on a night dive at Ammo Jetty, in approx. 1.5 meters of water and about 10 meters from the shoreline (watch your toes).

The Blue Ringed Octopus was in no distress during this period so it did not show off its illuminous blue rings, however you can see a slight blue colouring to its tentacles.

Taken also on a night dive at Ammo Jetty, approx. 3 years after the original two were taken.

These things don't grow too big and you can see the size comparison in relation to the wand in image 3.

I have to say I was hoping to get a better photograph of the distance colouring.

These were taken about 1/3 the length down the jetty in an open patch of sand. During the day you may find them under the broken down pylons around the site.

Video

Gloomy Octopus
(Octopus tetricus)

Ammo Jetty is Octopus Alley, with a keen eye you can pretty much see these Gloomy Octopus on every dive.

This is an excellent couple of pictures of a small Gloomy Octopus feeding, click on the left picture for a close up.

Right side picture shows this Octopus keeping a tight hold of this fish after a small bit of teasing by my Buddy Owen.

You can see clearly by this first picture how small these things are. There appears no strikingly obvious difference between a juvenile and a fully grown Occy other than its size, thats why I used my hand to show scale in this picture.

This was an eerie little moment at Ammo Jetty. There were two Octopus that did not change its colouration no matter how close I got, at first I though they were dead, but they were just sitting hugging each other. You can see the second Octopus's tentacle just wrapping around by the left eye. I am still unsure what is happening here, if anything.

Tending to Eggs ?

Just leaving Robbs Jetty, and I noticed this small clutch of eggs.

As I was about to swim off I noticed a Gloomy Octopus in the hole above it.

I am not sure if these are Octopus eggs or not.

Mac "The Spade" Calders' Octopus

How lucky am I to have such good dive buddies who donate to the website.

These stunning photographs taken by Mac Calder, showing the incredible diverse colour schemes these creatures are capable of.

I am presuming this is in fact a Gloomy Octopus, if you know differently please let me know.

Photographed on a night dive @ KGT.

Cuttlefish

Giant Cuttlefish

(Sepia aparma)

These photographs of the Giant Cuttlefish where taken at Robbs Jetty.

Left side photograph is a great little picture, this thing would have blended in beautifully with the sea grass and, I am sure I would of swam straight past if we had not watched it taking shelter.

Middle left photograph taken in May 2011, during this dive and on a couple of other dives around this period, Robbs Jetty was loaded with Cuttlefish.

Middle right photograph taken at Jervoise Bay off Woodmans Point, again the colours of the Giant Cuttlefish are amazing.

Love the eye shot taken at Robbs Jetty and the wonderful colour variation of the one photographed at Point Peron.

Nice dive at KGT, awash with Cuttle's, and very friendly ones too.... but they did keep a close eye on you.

Juvenile Giant Cuttlefish
(Sepia aparma)

Obviously a Giant Cuttlefish has to start some where so I am guessing this is just a juvenile Sepia aparma.

Squid

Southern Calamary
(Sepioteuthis australis)

Night dive at KGT (donated by Alex Farny).

Below these are Calamari eggs, noticed these stashed behind some Cystophora weed on the pylons at Robbs Jetty.

Photographs taken on a night dive at MAAC.

Bright Eyes...... taken from about 3 meters away on a night dive at Ammo, you could just see these glowing greenish yellow eyes floating away.

Feeding tine at the the zoo.... same dive as above.

Striped Pyjama Squid aka Lined Dumpling Squid

(Sepioloidea lineolata)

This little gem photographed on a night dive at Ammo Jetty.

Unfortunately during this period my strobe had given up the ghost and all photographs had to be taken with a video light, so no the best quality;

Great series of shots here taken by Mel T of a couple of Dumpling Squid fighting,

These donated by Mac "The Spade" Calder. Shows slight thickening and darkening of bands on the first set, and a more orangey colouring in the second set.

Video

Southern Bobtail Squid aka Southern Dumpling Squid
(Euprymna tasmanica)

Another smasher from my good buddy Alex Farny..... I think this was taken at Kwinana Grain Terminal whilst on a night dive.

Unidentified Dumpling or Bobtail Squid

Big thanks to Mac for donating these as of yet unidentified Dumpling or Bobtail Squid. Photographed at Robbs Jetty.

Any help with identifying this would be great.

Taken on the same dive by Mel T just as it was appearing from its days slumber.

Rams Horn Squid
(Spirula spirula)

These Rams Horns Squid photographs kindly donated by my non-diving buddy Davina Baxter, taken on the beach down Secret Harbour way..... These things are rarely seen in the water but very common to see their shells washed up along the shoreline.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING DOWN: THEN WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING