Cephalopodcast

So the meme of the moment is focused on science tattoos. It is something the kids seem proud of today and they are not alone.

Naturally enough, cephalopods provide a lot of inkspiration when it comes to tattoos. Over at TONMO they did a reader survey to find out what motivates people to go under the “pen.”

The most popular location for a cephalopod tattoo is the lower back, with four (25%) tattoos residing there. The left arm was a close second (3), followed by a 3-way tie for right arm, left leg, and upper back (2 each).

So why do people choose to get a cephalopod tattoo over something different? Here is some of the insight provided by our responders. It’s interesting to note the prevailing observation that cephalopods are so “alien”-like.

• When I was a kid my uncle took me scuba diving, and I held a small octopus on that arm [where I got my tattoo]. It was such an amazing experience…
• I’m a scuba instructor, and they’re my favorite…
• my favorite animal since i was a kid
• Cephalopods are my favorite creatures on the planet. They are not only highly intelligent and full of personality, but they are both entirely alien looking (compared to all other animals) and adorable at the same time.
• I like cephs a lot, and have devoted a lot of time to them. More importantly, I found an image of a ceph that resonated with me, and seemed to reflect other aspects of my life besides cephs.
• …you can’t really sail to French Polynesia and not get a tattoo, so i got one of an octopus…
• I love cephalopods - the last (known) living sea monsters, intelliegent, and alien to us - but given that most of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans, they’re probably more abundant than even all 6 billion of us. Their colors and elegance of motion make them living art (to me, anyway).
• ‘cuz they’re just so gosh darn squidly!

They have galleries containing tattoo images broken down into three categories: octopus, cuttlefish, and squid. An interested cephaloblog reader was also kind enough to share his sinewy octopus tattoo with me and I am glad to see it turned out pretty well.

But I’ve never been inked myself. I’m afraid if I did, it would end up looking something like Dicrostonyx torquatus.

See also

• Love Lab: Sea life tattoos (over 12 pages!)
• TONMO: Cephalopod Tattoos
• Paryngula: Tats for Science and discussion
• The other 95% tattoos
• eMedicine: Histology of Tattoos
• “The most intense tattoo you will ever see [via digg]

UPDATE: The meme continues.

• Metafilter: Awesome science tattoos
• Street Anatomy: the anatomy tattoo gallery