The Mimic Octopus - impersonates jellyfish, flatfish and snake and mystery shapes.

The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is a species of octopus from the Indo-Pacific region that is able to impersonate a wide variety of other marine animals. It is noteworthy for being able to change its coloring and contort its body to take on the appearance and behavior of several animals, including the lionfish, jellyfish, sea snake, a shrimp, a crab, and others. This new-to-science cephalopod is a master impersonator and can switch between its disguises rapidly.

[misusatriyo]

This is fascinating. They're really smart to be able—not just—changing colors, shapes, and behavior, but they also know exactly WHEN to impersonate something based on their circumstances. They may have the ability to actually do complex decision making.

[peterwarren]

One of those imitations was definitely, the Hamburglar.

[virginiacrawford]

Extraordinary creatures. I stopped eating calamari once i realised how clever and sentient they are.

[TheCervelas]

4:30 "nothing to see here, i'm just a rock"

[LittleFuzzButt]

I am curious if they would ever attempt to mimic a human and if they did, how would it look

[lisadooley]

Okay now I feel stupid!!! But I am in love with this animal!!! It shows me that I still have so much to learn about everything!!!

[Rodsupremos]

There is 100% advanced alien octopus races out there.

[tazika]

How could photographer resist playing with Mimic Octopus? After few photos I would leave camera (to someone) and start making weird shapes and moves, to see would he mimic me. Or mimic something he thinks would scare me? In my childhood we played a "mimic game", only without changing our colours. Could I make an Octo laugh at me, play with me, get offended IF I MIMIC HIM? Could I catch Octo's interest? There are friendly octopuses, are you sure this one just wants you to go away?

[bryansansone]

This one time an octopus mimicked a mostly black football team that proceeded to record a video or 7 with my wife. Nature is amazing.

[buttfan]

God did a great job programming the DNA on these huh..very impressive.

[SomeOne-ticz]

This is the most fascinating thing I ever watched. These animals don't even think articulately like us, but in a way or another, they watch predators knowing that they bring fear, and modify their body to look and act like them, all this without having a language for articulating their thought process

[neoxpro]

Woah I didn't even know they could change colours
Thought they always had the black and white stripe on and were limited to black and white for its color changing pigment

[backfru]

Well, I haveb't discussed it with the family yet - but we all agree that the first one is a free dinner at Americatown

[AndreAndre-lmpj]

I've seen one mimic a rock/. stone fish . They are VERY poisonous so that would be handy

[jessvolina]

Maybe the Mimic Octopus is telling us there is extra terrestrial life in the sea, or a species that only they have come across…

[bobjason]

There could be forms it mimics in an instinctual way from the things ancient octopi mimed. A leftover active gene maybe

[darthjuon]

This music was made perfect for this creature 😃

[peterstoric]

I’m convinced that if octopi were social and survived mating they would be one of the most dominant animals on the planet

[jamescharles]

All it has to do is stay looking like an Octopus and get some blue rings covering its body. What messes with a blue ringed Octopus?

[kahi]

perhaps those few unidentified mimicries could've been sea slugs, since they can be dangerous as well