This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The common dolphin is, by far, the most bountiful cetacean in the world, with an estimated global population of approximately 6,000,000. They are found off the shores of every continent in the world sans Antarctica. Being this abundant has its downsides too, as they face several threats such as overfishing […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The flapjack octopus, aka adorabilis, is a species of umbrella octopus that hails from the northern and northeastern Pacific Ocean. These adorable critters are listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN, as there is still so much to learn about them and their overall numbers. They dwell in the deep […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The dumbo octopus is named after the flying, cartoon elephant; due to the presence of it’s floppy ear-like fins on either side of it’s body. There are approximately 37 known species of dumbo octopuses. They are located in oceans around the world. These cephalopods are generally listed as Data Deficient […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The nautilus, aka chambered nautilus or pearly nautilus, is a cephalopod. Which means it’s a member of the squid and octopus family. They can be found in tropical waters around the Indian and Pacific oceans, near the coast of Australia, Japan, Fiji, New Caledonia, and more locales. These peculiar creatures […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Hailing from the Indo-Pacific region, the mimic octopus brings new meaning to blending in. Their name is derived, in part, from the Greek word thaûma, meaning “marvel” or “miracle”. They prefer warm, muddy waters like those found in river mouths and estuaries. Even though they are subject to habitat destruction […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Cuttlefish are closely related to squids and octopuses. They are in the cephalopod family. Cephalopod means “head-foot”. There are 120 known species of cuttlefish. These cephalopods are very intelligent and have 1 of the biggest brain to body ratios of all known invertebrates. A testament to their intellect is that […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The bonnethead shark, aka the shovelhead shark, is the smallest known member of the hammerhead shark family. The bonnethead can be found in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, from North America down to Ecuador and Brazil. They prefer shallow bays and estuaries with muddy or sandy bottoms and can […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The giant Pacific octopus is touted as being the largest known octopus in the world. Impressive, as there are 300 known species of octopuses in the world’s oceans. These cephalopods are actually mollusks. Their shells are just located inside their head as 2 small plates and the remainder of their […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Not only is the giant squid the largest of all the cephalopods, it’s also the largest living invertebrate in the world! They can be found in the Northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea, Northern parts of the Pacific Ocean, […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The blanket octopus is as strange as it is beautiful. With a large drapery spanning between their arms, a secret weapon (borrowed from another animal), a massive size difference between males and females, and an ultra secretive lifestyle. This oceanic wanderer comes to you, on special request, from my friend […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.