Octopus

The octopus has terrified, mystified, and fascinated the world from ancient times.

In this revealing, closeup account of the stranger-than-fiction life cycle, ingenious anatomy, remarkable personalities, and uncanny intelligence of the eight-armed mollusc-without-a-shell, three avid field researchers tell a tale that will forever change the way you look at a wondrous creature of the deep.

The visually arresting and often misunderstood octopus has long captured popular imagination. With an alien appearance and uncanny intellect, this exceptional sea creature has inspired fear in famous lore and legends---from the giant octopus attack in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to Ursula the sea witch in The Little Mermaid. Yet its true nature is more wondrous still.

After decades of research, the authors reveal a sensitive, curious, and playful animal with remarkable intelligence and advanced problem-solving abilities, an ability to defend itself with camouflage and jet propulsion, and an intricate nervous system.

In this beautifully photographed book, three leading marine biologists bring readers face to face with these amazingly complex animals that have fascinated scientists for decades. From the molluscan ancestry of today's octopus to its ingenious anatomy, amazing mating and predatory behaviours, and other-worldly relatives, the authors take readers through the astounding life cycle, uncovering the details of distinctive octopus personalities. With personal narratives, underwater research, stunning photography, and thoughtful guidance for keeping octopuses in captivity, Octopus is the first comprehensive natural history of this smart denizen of the sea.

About the Authors

Jennifer A. Mather
Jennifer A. Mather is a leading researcher on octopuses, concentrating on their behavior and personalities. A professor of psychology at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, she teaches a variety of courses including studies of aging and perception. She grew up on the Pacific coast of Canada where she acquired her lifelong fascination with cephalopods, which she has been writing about since 1978. She has conducted field research in Bermuda, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.

Roland C. Anderson
Roland C. Anderson, a former biologist at the Seattle Aquarium, has observed octopuses in captivity and the wild for more than 30 years. He is particularly interested in the natural history, behavior, and aquarium husbandry of marine invertebrates and especially the cold water cephalopods of Puget Sound, about which he has published numerous articles. The son of a sea captain, he grew up near the ocean where he became an avid scuba diver.

James B. Wood
James B. Wood is the director of education at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. An accomplished underwater photographer, he is especially interested in cephalopod behavior, husbandry, and physiology. Webmaster of the Cephalopod Page, one of the longest running biological Web sites, James is a founding member of MarineBio.org and a staff member of TONMO.com, an online cephalopod enthusiast community.