Vulcanoctopus: Difference between revisions
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==Habitat== |
==Habitat== |
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''V. hydrothermalis'' lives along the [[East Pacific Rise]] which borders the [[Pacific Plate|Pacific]], [[Cocos Plate|Cocos]], and [[Nazca Plate]]s. This vent octopus is found near colonies of [[giant tube worm]]s,<ref name=":0">González, A. F., A. Guerra, S. Pascual and P. Briand. (1998). ''Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis'' gen. Et sp. nov. (Mollusca, Cephalopoda): an octopod from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent site. Cah. Biol. Mar. 39: 169–184.</ref> which are located at hydrothermal vents. These environments are very hostile, as hot water rises through 10m vents, releasing a black 'cloud' of metal sulfides and other toxic chemicals.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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==Prey== |
==Prey== |
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Its confirmed prey consist of the [[amphipod]] ''[[Halice hesmonectes]]'' and crabs, which are thought to be one of their primary food sources.<ref name=deepseanews1 /> At 2,620 meters depth, the HOV Alvin has captured video evidence of '' |
Its confirmed prey consist of the [[amphipod]] ''[[Halice hesmonectes]]'' and crabs, which are thought to be one of their primary food sources.<ref name=deepseanews1 /> At 2,620 meters depth, the HOV Alvin has captured video evidence of ''V. hydrothermalis'' wrapping their arms around these bathypelagic amphipods. Specifically, they coordinate their arms in a starburst pattern to form a water-filled web and engulf their prey. Considering the fact that this predator-prey relationship has been predominantly observed around the hydrothermal vent site in the East Pacific Rise, researchers propose that sulphide spires located along the hydrothermal vent may serve to benefit ''V. hydrothermalis''' predatory behavior. The current hypothesis is that the spires enable the octopuses to effectively grip onto this section of the vent and gain access to the dense aggregations of their prey.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Voight |first=Janet R. |date=2005 |title=Hydrothermal vent octopuses of Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, feed on bathypelagic amphipods of Halice hesmonectes |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/abs/hydrothermal-vent-octopuses-of-vulcanoctopus-hydrothermalis-feed-on-bathypelagic-amphipods-of-halice-hesmonectes/D99EF5C3157D93B8B0F838596A9CED53 |journal=Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |language=en |volume=85 |issue=4 |pages=985–988 |doi=10.1017/S0025315405011999 |issn=1469-7769 |via=Cambridge University Press}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 19:04, 15 March 2024
| Vulcanoctopus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Enteroctopodidae |
| Genus: | Vulcanoctopus González & Guerra, 1998 |
| Species: | V. hydrothermalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis González & Guerra, 1998
| |
Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, also known as the vent octopus, is a small benthic octopus endemic to hydrothermal vents.[1]
It is the only known species of the genus Vulcanoctopus.
Habitat
V. hydrothermalis lives along the East Pacific Rise which borders the Pacific, Cocos, and Nazca Plates. This vent octopus is found near colonies of giant tube worms,[2] which are located at hydrothermal vents. These environments are very hostile, as hot water rises through 10m vents, releasing a black 'cloud' of metal sulfides and other toxic chemicals.[2]
Description
The morphology of V. hydrothermalis is characterized by some unusual traits. Due to the selection pressures of the deep sea, V. hydrothermalis has adapted traits in response to these unique conditions. One such adaptation is that they do not have an ink sac. Additionally, its dorsal arms are longer than the ventral arms and feature biserial suckers. Overall, V. hydrothermalis has a mean total length of 184 mm (7.2 in).[3]
Behavior
The ratio of recovered individuals is skewed towards males, indicating fewer females or spatial segregation by sex. V. hydrothermalis' primary defense mechanism against a predator is to freeze in place. The secondary defense involves pushing away from the bottom of the seafloor and then drifting back down once the threat has dissipated. V. hydrothermalis uses its front arms (I dorsal and II dorsolateral) to detect and catch prey. The back arms (III ventrolateral and IV ventral) function to support the weight of the vent octopus and move it forward. This species has not been observed to use jet propulsion.[4]
Prey
Its confirmed prey consist of the amphipod Halice hesmonectes and crabs, which are thought to be one of their primary food sources.[1] At 2,620 meters depth, the HOV Alvin has captured video evidence of V. hydrothermalis wrapping their arms around these bathypelagic amphipods. Specifically, they coordinate their arms in a starburst pattern to form a water-filled web and engulf their prey. Considering the fact that this predator-prey relationship has been predominantly observed around the hydrothermal vent site in the East Pacific Rise, researchers propose that sulphide spires located along the hydrothermal vent may serve to benefit V. hydrothermalis' predatory behavior. The current hypothesis is that the spires enable the octopuses to effectively grip onto this section of the vent and gain access to the dense aggregations of their prey.[5]
References
- ^ a b CR McClain (11 April 2007). "From The Desk of Zelnio: Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis". Deep Sea News. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ a b González, A. F., A. Guerra, S. Pascual and P. Briand. (1998). Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis gen. Et sp. nov. (Mollusca, Cephalopoda): an octopod from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent site. Cah. Biol. Mar. 39: 169–184.
- ^ Gonzalez, A. F.; Guerra, A.; Rocha, F.; Briand, P. "Morphological variation in males of Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda)" (PDF). Bulletin of marine science.
- ^ Rocha, F.; Gonzalez, A. F.; Segonzac, M.; Guerra, A. (2002). "Behavioural observations of the cephalopod Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis" (PDF). Cah. Biol. Mar. pp. 299–302. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Voight, Janet R. (2005). "Hydrothermal vent octopuses of Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, feed on bathypelagic amphipods of Halice hesmonectes". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 85 (4): 985–988. doi:10.1017/S0025315405011999. ISSN 1469-7769 – via Cambridge University Press.
Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.
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External links
- Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis at Encyclopedia of Life (pictures)