2nd Position at Blackwater Ocean Art 2019: Paolo Bausani Achieves Success in Art Competition
Photographer Captures Rare Image of Elusive Blanket Octopus
During a night, blackwater dive in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines, a photographer named Paulo captured a striking image of a Blanket Octopus (Tremoctopus spp.). The photograph, taken with a Nikon D500 Camera and Nikkor 60mm Macro Lens, showcases the creature's unique defense mechanisms and captivating appearance.
The Blanket Octopus is known for its striking sexual dimorphism and unusual defense strategies. Females can grow up to 2 meters long, while males remain very small, around 2.4 cm. When threatened, mature female blanket octopuses unfurl a large, web-like "blanket" of skin between their arms to appear larger and more intimidating to predators. This webbing can also be detached if bitten, likely serving as a distraction. Smaller females and males are known to carry and deploy venomous tentacles from the Portuguese man o' war as a defense mechanism.
The liveaboard trip where this photograph was taken was with M.Y. Oceanic. Paulo won the trip as part of a competition, earning him 50% off a companion for the journey. The dive itself was a blackwater dive, a technique that involves drifting over open water at night to observe pelagic species.
The photograph captures the Blanket Octopus in a unique pose, with its extended fleshy curtains resembling a disco icon. The image was taken using Dual Inon Z-330 Strobes as lighting equipment, ensuring the vibrant colours of the creature and its surroundings were accurately captured.
The Blanket Octopus is a highly elusive and fascinating species, particularly in tropical waters like the Philippines. Its combination of physical and chemical defense mechanisms makes it a captivating subject for underwater photographers and marine biologists alike.
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