Organism Physiology
BIO/101
December 11, 2012

Organisms are several existing objects such as plants, animals, micro-organisms, or fungus. The organism is made up of organelles, organs, or other cells that coexist together to carry on the various stages of life. There are many organisms to choose from and I have chosen the giant octopus or Enteroctopus Dofleini for this assignment. The giant octopus is a marine invertebrate organism that inhabits the oceans off the coast of the United States. The octopus has a food source that consists of small fish, clams, mussels, crabs, and other marine animals. The giant octopus have developed different adaptations in the form of specialized organs to assist in its survival and is a predatory by nature. Those survival organs are the arms for capturing prey, the complex eyes, and the brain/nervous system. This paper will state different organs and how the Enteroctopus Dofleini adapts physiologically to its surroundings. The Enteroctopus Dofleini has a larger brain compare to other Mollusca located right below the optic socket and wraps around the esophagus. The central nervous system, brain, and the sense organs are the most extremely developed of the invertebrates. During the octopus’s lifetime the brain will continue to grow and will have more than 170 million nerve cells, of which 130 million will be optical. More than or about 350 million nerve cells will exist in the limbs of the Enteroctopus Dofleini and can differentiate items with the similar sensitivity as its sight. When the giant octopus moves along the ocean floor, those nerve systems allow the octopus to learn its environment. This giant octopus can memorize its past surroundings and keep a mental picture of areas it has fed upon. During feeding time in a treacherous or hostile environment both predator and prey must increase a diverse assortment of defensive and hunting behaviors. The giant octopus short term and long-term memory capability from its highly developed mind adaptation gives the octopus a definite advantage in surviving. Octopuses could change color to match the environment as it hides and are stealthy hunters. The giant octopus patiently waits for prey to swim within reaching distance and swiftly holds the prey, poisoning it with a secretion that stuns the prey. Chromatophores are the light reflecting cells on the skin of the octopus that allows it to blend in their environment. Each Chromatophore consists of a central cell containing pigment granules that is surrounded by 15 to 25 muscle fibers and receives instructions by a set of nerve cells controlled by the brain. In times of distress, the octopus can detach a limb and the crawling arm serves as a distraction to predators, allowing the octopus to escape if attack. The giant octopus is a perfect example of adaptation in an organism and can adapt to any surroundings it inhabits. The brain enables the giant octopus to solve problems and the ability to memorize its environment, makes the brain work with the octopus’s arms similar to the way the brain works for human limbs. The brain sends nerve impulses to the arms and the arms carryout the tasks signaled from the brain. The octopus can sense a predator and use its defense mechanism as an ink screen to disorientate and confuse the predator. This defensive screen allows the octopus to escape to safety. The physiological development of the organs in the octopus ensures its survival in its surroundings and makes the octopus an excellent hunter. It hypothesize that the brain of the octopus gives an assignment to the arm and the arm essentially decides how to carry out the task. There was an experiment done that involved cutting and separating the nerves of an arm from other nerves in the body and tickling the arm. The response shows the injured arm reacting just as a healthy octopus’s arm would (Horton, 2008). This is a unique circuitry gives the octopus immaculate control over their bodies. The giant octopus prefers movement in a style closest to walking. The suckers on each arm move in unison to propel the octopus. Each individual sucker has up to 10,000 neurons in it (Horton, 2008). Marine biologists have studied cephalopods claiming that their subject even has personalities and Scigliano says “that octopuses engage in play, the deliberate, repeated, outwardly useless activity through which smarter animals explore their world and refine their skills” (Tzar & Scigalino, 2003, p. 1). One biologist claims that her octopus even “bubble surfs” by spreading his mantle out and letting the aerator jets from his tank run under his body (Tzar & Scigalino, 2003). Key traits were noted out of 73 lab-bred octopuses. Discoveries showed temperamental variations at different maturity levels. The younger octopuses were active and aggressive whereas the older mature octopuses were more alert and more rapidly to react to danger (Tzar & Scigalino, 2003). This is evidence showing even though their lifespan is short; their brain adapts and evolves more quickly. Around the mouth of the octopus it has eight arms that allow the octopus to crawl, swim, and move in its environment. Octopuses crawl slowly using the arms to move through the water headfirst. If necessary, octopuses can move faster by using its arms to propel through the water similar to a jet propulsion. The suckers found on the underside of the arms aid in catching prey for food, and as a weapon when threatened by a predator. The ink sac in an octopus can be found below the digestive gland. Located there is a small gland that produces the ink and than a larger muscular sac that stores the ink. The sac has a gland that connects to the anus and when the octopus is frighten, the ink is released from the sac through the anus into the funnel where it is mix with some mucous. Melanin, the main component of the ink, clings to the mucous molecules giving morphing into a cloud-like illusion allowing the giant octopus to swim away leaving the predator confused. In conclusion, not all species of octopuses have an ink sac the majority still alive today does. The octopus is one special type of organism in the ocean’s environment. This species are unique and differ from other creatures in the sea.
References
Deb, S. (2010, July 17). Octopus Brain. Retrieved from http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/voices/octopus-brain
Horton, J. (2008, May). How Octopuses work. Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/marine-life/octopus3.htm
New World Encyclopedia. (2008, August). Octopus. Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Octopus?oldid=794938
Tzar, J., & Scigalino, E. (2003, October). Through the Eye of an Octopus. Retrieved from http://discovermagazine.com/2003/oct/feateye