Sea Creature of the Week....the past 2 Weeks!!! :-)

"The Sea Creature of the Week" 

Skipping a week for an awesome cross country tour...I had to bring you an awesome sea creature to make up for it! ;-) 

Giant Pacific Octopus

Enteroctopus dofleini

Just the name of this creature sounds big, doesn't it? GIANT!!!! Well I got the chance to see one of these creatures up close and it was AWESOME!!!!!!! Visiting the wonderful city of Seattle, Wa, I had an opportunity to tour the Seattle Aquarium! Great aquarium, showing all the diversity of the Pacific Ocean, in addition to an exhibit dedicated to the Giant Pacific Octopus!!! This creature gets its name from being bigger and living longer than any other of the octopus species. The average size is about 16 feet across and 110 pounds. However according to National Geographic, the record specimen was 30 feet across and weighed more than 600 pounds!!!!! Woooow!!!!! They are also known for their huge bubble-shaped heads which are usually a red-brown color. GPO's have a short life span, being only 4 years, both males and females. Like their octopus family, they have unique skin cells that allow them to change color to whatever color surrounds them. They are also very smart creatures! Lab studies have shown them opening jars and solving mazes! Aren't they intelligent?! :-) GPO's live from Alaska all the way down to southern California and even out in Japan. These are amazing creatures with GIANT brains! Check 'em out!