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Celebrating cephalopods

montage of cephalopods
This montage (not to scale) shows some of the beautiful and fascinating cephalopods that MBARI researchers see when they explore the waters of Monterey Bay. Clockwise from upper left, they are: market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens), Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas), Galliteuthis squid (Galliteuthis sp.), a cirrate octopus (Cirrothauma murrayi), Dumbo octopus (Opisthoteuthis sp.), Graneledone octopus (Graneledone sp.), and vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis). Images: © MBARI

Celebrating cephalopods

montage of cephalopods
This montage (not to scale) shows some of the beautiful and fascinating cephalopods that MBARI researchers see when they explore the waters of Monterey Bay. Clockwise from upper left, they are: market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens), Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas), glass squid (Galiteuthis sp.), a cirrate octopus (Cirrothauma murrayi), flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis sp.), Graneledone octopus (Graneledone sp.), and vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis). Images: © MBARI

Cephalopods—squids, octopuses, and their relatives—are some of the most beautiful and intriguing animals in the ocean. During the week of June 23-27, 2014, MBARI, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Science Friday teamed up to present a wonderful array of videos and still images of these creatures. We’ve compiled a few of the videos that these organizations have posted as part of an informal Cephalopod Week.

In addition to the videos below, throughout the week, MBARI and the Aquarium posted photos of amazing cephalopods on their web and social media sites using the hashtag #CephalopodWeek. Check them out!


Video about deep-sea squids that brood their eggs, carrying hundreds or thousands of their developing young in their arms.


Video about the vampire squid, produced by Science Friday.


Video about raising cuttlefish for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Tentacles exhibit, produced by Science Friday.


Video about MBARI postdoctoral fellow Stephanie Bush and her involvement in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Tentacles exhibit, produced by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.


For additional information or images relating to this article, please contact pressroom@mbari.org.