Cephalopods have a complex variety of life functions that set them apart from other classes and species. One thing that sets the mimic octopus apart is their ability to mimic other organisms; another is their incredible intelligence. Octopi in general are known as escape artists: organisms capable of getting out of their tanks, working tools, elaborately hunting, and even demonstrating their memories. Other life functions, from their systems to their diets, also sets the cephalopods [and specifically the mimic octopus] apart from other classes.
Symmetry:
Bilaterally Symmetrical
Cephalization:
They have a gathering of sense organs in a head region
Excretory:
Use nephridia to eliminate ammonia from their blood
Reproduction:
Undergo sexual reproduction: “…the males hold onto the females and use their mating arm…to insert a sperm sac…into the main body [female]…female lays it’s eggs…The male dies a few months after mating and the female dies a short time after laying eggs.”-National Geographic
Germ Layers:
Triploblastic: 3 germ layers!
Feeding:
Have arms that take in food, and strong beak-like jaws with a strong radula (tongue) for feeding: they can tear into prey and secrete a poison too.
Behaviour:
Use the mimicry of other organisms to appear as a predator.
Lifestyle:
Marine animals
Respiratory:
Have gills to extract O2 and to rid waste
Defence Mechanisms:
They have advanced vision, produce an ink cloud, produce poison, and are able to mimic the behaviour of other organisms.
Coelom:
Have a coelom and specialized organs, tissues and cells.
Camouflage:
Have cematophores that allow for the cephalopods to alter their colouring to camouflage themselves.
Adaptation:
RNA editing is common within the coleoid nervous system
Timeline:
100, 000 sp – 540MYA
Movement:
Move by jet propulsion
Digestion:
have a one-way digestive system that has specialized organs and feeding mouthparts
Body Organization/Skeleton:
Has a visceral mass, foot, and mantle : no internal or external skeleton
Circulation:
Closed circulatory system
Diet:
Carnivorous: small crabs, worms, small fish
Nervous system:
Most complex nervous system of the invertebrates: the basic molluscan nervous system follows a layout of six pairs of ganglia [cerebral, buccal, pedal, pleural, parietal and visceral] linked by a commissure.
Life Sciences 11 