[güttsfükk]

In nature, it is quite rare to encounter octopi with extra tentacles (or “arms,” for the purists), but a pair of aquariums in Japan’s Mie prefecture have some extraordinary specimens on hand.

The permanent display at the Shima Marineland Aquarium in the town of Shima includes a 96-tentacled Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) that weighed 3.3 kilograms (about 7 lbs) and measured 90 centimeters (3 ft) long when it was captured in nearby Matoya Bay in December 1998. Before dying 5 months later, the creature laid eggs (see 1st pic), making it the first known extra-tentacled octopus to do so in captivity. All the baby octopi hatched with the normal number of tentacles, but unfortunately they only survived a month.

The preserved octopus (see 2nd pic) actually has the normal number of 8 appendages attached to its body, but each one branches out to form the multitude of extra tentacles. Apparently there is no theory that fully explains the surplus tentacles, but they are believed to be the result of abnormal regeneration that occurred after the octopus suffered some sort of injury.

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The Toba Aquarium in the nearby town of Toba also has a few extraordinary octopus specimens, although they no longer appear to be on permanent display. Every now and then, though, the aquarium pulls them out of storage for the world to see.

Their most well-known specimen is an 85-tentacled Common Octopus (see 3rd pic) captured in 1957 at nearby Toshijima island. This remarkable creature — which, like the Shima Marineland octopus, has 8 main arms that branch out to form scores of tentacles — made quite a stir when it first went on display at Toba Aquarium a half-century ago. A few years later, the specimen was loaned to the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, where it famously caught the attention of the Showa Emperor.

The renowned creature eventually returned to Toba and went on permanent display until the aquarium moved to a new location in 1985, at which time it was placed in storage. Twenty years later, in 2005, the specimen entered the spotlight again when it was put on temporary display.

In the 50 years since the 85-tentacled octopus was captured, the Toba Aquarium has exhibited 6 other mutant octopi, most of them alive for a time, and each with between 9 and 56 tentacles.

[dooflotchie]

Whoa. That is a pretty bizarre genetic mutation. I wonder if it was advantageous to the creature or not?

[güttsfükk]

Originally Posted by dooflotchie ↗

Whoa. That is a pretty bizarre genetic mutation. I wonder if it was advantageous to the creature or not?

I was wondering if they can use each of the individual tentacles on their own like an octopus can with the normal 8 tentacles

[Gh007]

I had understood octopi were able to regrow tentacles, it could double reproduce tentacles, it may be were the hydra got the reputation for regrowing two heads, primitive scientists.

[Brainplague]

Originally Posted by dooflotchie ↗

Whoa. That is a pretty bizarre genetic mutation. I wonder if it was advantageous to the creature or not?

I have the same question. I also wonder what caused the mutation? Pollution?

[reena666]

do you think every animal has it's own...RETARD/DEFORMED species... and thats why some look a lil odd....

[pandapunkrock]

yumma..!
make sushi with him....

[kenmister123]

cool