Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus!

by | Apr 1, 2022 | Funny | 23 comments





An intelligent and inquisitive being (it has the largest brain-to-body ratio for any mollusk), the tree octopus explores its arboreal world by both touch and sight. Adaptations its ancestors originally evolved in the three dimensional environment of the sea have been put to good use in the spatially complex maze of the coniferous Olympic rainforests. The challenges and richness of this environment (and the intimate way in which it interacts with it,) may account for the tree octopus’s advanced behavioral development. (Some evolutionary theorists suppose that “arboreal adaptation” is what laid the groundwork in primates for the evolution of the human mind.)

Reaching out with one of her eight arms, each covered in sensitive suckers, a tree octopus might grab a branch to pull herself along in a form of locomotion called tentaculation; or she might be preparing to strike at an insect or small vertebrate, such as a frog or rodent, or steal an egg from a bird’s nest; or she might even be examining some object that caught her fancy, instinctively desiring to manipulate it with her dexterous limbs (really deserving the title “sensory organs” more than mere “limbs”,) in order to better know it.

Although the tree octopus is not officially listed on the Endangered Species List, we feel that it should be added since its numbers are at a critically low level for its breeding needs. The reasons for this dire situation include: decimation of habitat by logging and suburban encroachment; building of roads that cut off access to the water which it needs for spawning; predation by foreign species such as house cats; and booming populations of its natural predators, including the bald eagle and sasquatch. What few that make it to the Canal are further hampered in their reproduction by the growing problem of pollution from farming and residential run-off. Unless immediate action is taken to protect this species and its habitat, the Pacific Northwest tree octopus will be but a memory.




The possibility of Pacific Northwest tree octopus extinction is not an unwarranted fear. Other tree octopus species—including the Douglas octopus and the red-ringed madrona sucker—were once abundant throughout the Cascadia region, but have since gone extinct because of threats similar to those faced by paxarbolis, as well as overharvesting by the now-illegal tree octopus trade.

For more information, visit HERE

  • As senior editor here at reefs, I get to work with scientists from all over the world, and have made some wonderful friends in the industry! I also write for the site, and am the office manager at FRESH New London and the mother of two brilliant, talented young women.

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23 Comments

  1. Davana

    April Fools!!!

    Reply
    • cane

      what?????????

      Reply
  2. the rok

    vory cool

    Reply
    • cane

      what?????????

      Reply
  3. unknown

    smh

    Reply
  4. ...

    i am him

    Reply
  5. baby nikka

    goofy

    Reply
  6. The Demon Under Your bed

    what

    Reply
  7. billy bob jones

    verry funny

    Reply
  8. Milan

    This is so fake

    Reply
  9. Mr. Beast

    These comments are wild

    Reply
  10. Richland Siding Contractors

    While the website is a well-known internet hoax, it does touch on some interesting points about critical thinking online. The ability to discern real information from creative fiction is a valuable skill.

    The details about the tree octopus’ supposed habitat being near rivers and spawning in water are quite imaginative! It made me think about the unique adaptations real octopus species have developed for their underwater environments. Have you seen any interesting documentaries or articles lately that discuss recent discoveries about octopuses’ intelligence or problem-solving abilities?

    Reply
  11. Gregory

    “WHAT THE F****

    Reply
  12. gregory

    What the FUC*

    Reply
  13. British Batman

    What in the bloody heck is going on?!?

    Reply
  14. British Scammer

    OI MATE WHAT IS THIS

    Reply
  15. British Batman

    Bruv, that’s Austrailian

    Reply
  16. Albert Einstein

    This is the fakest article on earth u can tell by the date and the genre of this article

    Reply

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