Cephalopods (the animal group that includes octopuses and squids) have fascinated human beings for thousands of years. In the last two decades marine biologists have discovered many new species of cephalopods and documented a variety of intriguing behaviors and adaptions within this diverse group. This week MBARI joins the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Science Friday, and a number of other organizations in celebrating these animals as part of Cephalopod Week 2016.

Here are a few of the articles, images, and videos posted by Cephalopod Week participants so far:

• Science Friday‘s web page for Cephalopod Week 2016:
• Science Friday article – “The rare sight of a brooding squid”
• MBARI video montage – “Celebrating Cephalopods”:
  
• Science Friday video – “A Shot in the Dark: Alternative Uses for Squid Ink”
  
• Monterey Bay Aquarium video about cephalopod mimicry:
  

Just in case you haven’t gotten your fill of cephalobilia, here are links to stories and videos from previous Cephalopod Weeks:

• The adorable flapjack octopus
• Octopuses that “run” across the seafloor
• A deep-sea squid with one huge eye looking up and one smaller eye looking down
• MBARI’s Cephalopod Week web pages for 2014 and 2015