Tremoctopus violaceus Uses Physalia Tentacles as Weapons
Abstract
Immature octopods (Tremoctopus violaceus) have been found with numerous fragments of tentacles of the coelenterate Physalia attached to the suckers of their dorsal arms. The probable method of acquisition, the evidence of adaptation for holding the tentacles, and the possibility that the octopod uses these coelenterate tentacles as offensive and defensive weapons are discussed.
References
Troschel, H., Arch. Naturgesch. 32 1: 41 (1857).
Joubin, L., Ann. Inst. Oceanogr. Paris. 7: 1 (1929).
Naef, A., Fauna e Flora del Golfo di Napoli, 35 Monogr. 1 Th., Bd. 1, lief. 2 (1923).
Wangersky, E. D., Nature 185: 330 (1960).
Hubbs, C. L.., Calif. Fish Game 39: 127 (1953).
Kato, K., Proc. Imp. Acad. Tokyo 9 (1933).
Berry, S. S., Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 32: 282 (1912).
Zahl, P. A., Natl. Geograph. 101: 185 (1952).
Nakamura, E. L., personal communication.
Bruun, A. F., The Galathea Deep Sea Expedition, 1950-1952 (1952).
Voss, G. L., Bull. Marine Sci. Gull Caribbean 6: 85 (1956).
Voss, G. L., personal communication.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Already a Subscriber?Sign In
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Science
Volume 139 | Issue 3556
22 February 1963
22 February 1963
Copyright
© 1963.
Submission history
Published in print: 22 February 1963
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Article Usage
Altmetrics
Citations
Export citation
Select the format you want to export the citation of this publication.
View Options
Get Access
Log in to view the full text
AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS Members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
- Become a AAAS Member
- Activate your AAAS ID
- Purchase Access to Other Journals in the Science Family
- Account Help
Log in via OpenAthens.
Log in via Shibboleth.
More options
Purchase digital access to this article
Download and print this article for your personal scholarly, research, and educational use.
Buy a single issue of Science for just $15 USD.
View options
PDF format
Download this article as a PDF file
Download PDF