The Interwebs are brimming with reports from The Census of Marine Life about cephalopod ancestors mucking about around Antarctica. They believe that the shallow-water cephalopod, Megaleledone setebos, is an evolutionary link to many of the world’s other deep-sea octopuses. The CoML press release was just released, but judging from the pub date of the Shrapnel cartoon above (February 21, 2008), Peter Barbyshire must have had an inkling of what was to come.
The census continues through 2010, and the CoML Web site is a evolving wealth of information. But as Sarah notes, while they are deep in the midst of discovery, it make take some time to make it all classroom friendly.
Of course, cephalopods have a lineage that goes much farther back than Megaleledone setebos. Christopher Taylor recently posted a couple of nice entries on cephalopod early evolution:
If I spoke Italian, had 94€ in my pocket and was not so extra-large, I might be able to wear one of these boss cephalopod windbreakers from VNGRD. It’s even got the cephalopodcast color scheme! Sadly, it is not available in my size. But they also have T’s and hoodies designed in a similar fashion. I suppose I could settle for an octopusumbrella (though I’d rather have an umbrella octopus, [umbrellopus?]).
Anyone know of other exciting invertebrate-inspired couture?
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone for pointing out I am an idiot and mixed up the date on the graphic. Fixed now more-or-less. Pardon while I wipe this embarrassment off my face. New graphics featured here.
October 8, 2008 marks the 2nd Annual (Unofficial*) International Cephalopod Appreciation and Awareness Day (UICAAD), also referred to by some as Squid Day or Day of the Octopus.
There are over 700 species of cephalopods, which include animals like the nautilus, cuttlefish, octopus, and squid.
The original idea of celebrating cephalopod diversity started on The Octopus and News Magazine Web site (tonmo.com) back in 2007.
What better day to celebrate Octopus and Squid then on OCTOber 8, the eighth day of the 10th month of the year? Octopus have eight arms and squid and cuttlefish have eight arms and two tentacles, for a total of 10 appendages.
Top 10 Things You Can Do on Cephalopod Appreciation Day
Make a Cephalopod
hansigurumi, home of peculiar knitted cephalopods and other original designs
Spread the Word about Cephalopod Appreciation Day!
If you write a post about cephalopods today, let me know! Just like last year, I’ll be collecting links from around the Interweb at cephalopodcast.com/octopusday
THANKS! I ♥♥♥ Cephalopods
*It is still unofficial because no official governing body has (yet) made it a declaration.
Squid Replicants [via TONMO]
A couple of years ago we need a replica squid beak for a project at work. We ended up going with a custom fabricator, but I always figured there would be a market for a mass produced version. It seems this notion also occurred to the folks at Skulls Unlimited, since they now offer a casting of a giant squid squid beak (Architeuthis sp.) for US$95. According to Clem’s review on TONMO, the folks at SU will soon follow up with a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis sp.) replica too.
Cephalopod Residents
Also of note on TONMO is a new book by Nancy King and Colin Dunlop called Cephalopods: Octopuses and Cuttlefish for the Home Aquarium (US$40). Keeping these critters in captivity is a challenge even for the most veteran aquarist. This book looks to be a good resource on the husbandry of cephalopods.
Pseudo Pristis pectinata
If a squid beak replica the size of your hand is not impressive enough, you can instead get a replica sawfish rostrum from vivre.com for US$250. The real rostra were a staple marine life curio for many years. But the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) is the first marine fish to be listed on the U.S. Endangered Species list and possessing any part of an actual sawfish without a permit is now illegal. So satisfy your kitsch with a resin rostrum instead.
Another Illustrator exercise inspired by this sign. Because cephalopods need to know where to go when it rains too.
Seize Your Feed
About
Cephalopodcast.com - The Ocean Podcast: Featuring science education and information about our oceans. Produced in south Florida, it includes news and ideas for marine educators and those who wish to learn more about the other 71% of our planet.
![Three panel comic featuring a photo of a slowly ascending octopus and the caption: For eons we waited...patiently...for the ice caps to melt... [500x149, 36K]](http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/octopusoverlords-peterdarbyshiredotcom1.jpg "octopus overlords, by Peter Darbyshite, shrapnel.wordpress.com/octopus-overlords/")
![Black windbreaker with an image of purple octopus tentacles screened onto the hood and shoulders [200x225, 20K]](http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/vngrd-octopuswindbreaker1.jpg "vngrd.org: Octopus Windbreaker - Black, medium")
![Book cover showing the underside and suckers of an octopus. [240x240, 20K]](http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/cephalopodcast-king-dunlop-book.jpg)
![Blue road signed with a stylized octopus and the words CEPHALOPOD ROUTE and a downward pointing arrow [284x521, 44K]](http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/cephalopodcast-evacuation.jpg "Cephalopod Evacuation Route")
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