The Mimic Octopus was first discovered off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia in 1998. The Mimic Octopus was thought to only exist near Indonesia; however, they have been discovered as far as the Australian Great Barrier Reef.
Fossils:
The oldest fossil of an octopus dates back to 296 million years ago: before the dinosaurs walked the earth!
History:
“The cephalopods have a long geological history, with the first nautiloids found in late Cambrian strata.”- wikipedia
Unprecedented:
Studies show cephalopods evolve different than almost every other organism on earth!
Cephalopod Evolution:
Cephalopods may be much older than ever predicted. Studies have begun to show that cephalopods demonstrate evolution in an incredibly unique sense.
“For most animals, changes that might prove beneficial to the organism primarily occur at the beginning of their molecular production process. Mutations occur in DNA that are then transcribed into RNA; the RNA is then translated into an altered protein.”- Scientific American
Cephalopods seem to evolve following a different pattern: they do not start their evolution with a DNA mutation; rather, they are able to modify the proteins in their bodies, without totally altering their DNA makeup.
“…it looks as if cephalopods have changed very slowly over the eons of their existence. …may be a lot older than previously thought.”- Scientific American
Cephalopods seem to mainly evolve using a process called RNA editing. RNA editing consists of an enzyme switching one RNA base for another. Separate studies show that certain octopi and squid may undergo this RNA editing, in order to better adapt to changes in the ocean’s temperature. Further studies into the evolution of cephalopods has lead to the conclusion that this unique ability to alter so much of their RNA (about half of all genes in their bodies), has changed the “normal path” that evolution follows: meaning cephalopods have not evolved nearly as much or as quickly as most organisms. Another conclusion certain scientists have hypothesized from the cephalopod RNA editing, is that “octopus smarts might come from their unconventionally high reliance on RNA edits to keep the brain going.”- Science Alert
“…such extensive RNA editing seems to have helped to minimize changes in the cephalopod DNA over the eons that they have been around. Unlike most animal species, whose genomes are riddled with millions of years of mutations that have helped them adapt to a volatile world, cephalopod adaption appears to have been more a result of RNA editing.”- Scientific American
Mimic Octopus Evolutionary Adaptations
The mimic octopus has evolved to not only camouflage their appearance (a common development of cephalopods), but the ability to recognize and mimic the behaviour of other organisms as well: to trick predators into believing they are poisonous or a greater predator. Unlike other similar species [who have the ability to appear like one other organism], the mimic octopus has evolved to be able to mimic multiple other organisms: upwards of fifteen and counting- making them able to ward off more predators than their ancestors.
The mimic octopus (octopi in general) also has the ability to produce poisonous chemicals to ward of predators. The mimic octopus (octopi in general) will also shed an arm if they are being attacked by a predator [life over limb]: they will then regenerate the lost limb!
Life Sciences 11 