he eggs are larger and when they hatch will be almost full-grown. Opposed to those octopi which lay over 100,000, when they hatch they will float around as plankton for a few weeks before being able to swim on their own. Out of these 100,000+ Octopus eggs, only one or two will live to be old enough to give birth to their own young one day. After the eggs hatch, the mother stays with her eggs the entire length of time. This leads to death by starvation because the incubation period for the eggs is between 50 – 60 days.
The Octopus’s predators include: moray eels, conger eels, dolphins and sharks. The Octopus will use it’s siphon to use jet propulsion to try and escape predators. The Octopus also can use camouflage to hide from predators. As a last defense, it will squirt out a screen of black ink to give it a few seconds longer to escape.
There are about 100 species of octopus, with both the largest and smallest species being found off the west coast of the United States. The largest, the North Pacific octopus, where many of the octopus fables come from, can reach up over 30 feet from the tip of one tentacle to another and grossing over 100 lbs. The smallest octopus is the Californian Octopus, it can be found off the coast of California, and measures less than an inch.
What is a squid? Squids are closely related to the octopus. They are soft bodied cephalopods that are invertebrates. The squid only has one eye. Squids have 8 tentacles. The tentacles are similar to the octopus because they are covered in suckers. Octopi can camouflage themselves. The squid uses it’s siphon and legs to move.|
The depth of the squid’s habitat depends on the type of squid. Some squids live in the middle layer of the ocean, while some live right above the bottom of the floor. Like the octopus, the squid can see in dim light.
Squid eat fish, crustaceans and other squids. They use a parrot like beak to eat their pray. The food must be in very small pieces before swallowing because the esophagus runs through the brain.
Squids do not live a very long life, which is why females release such enormous amounts (up to 11 pounds) of eggs to ensure the continuation of their species. Squids usually spawn in groups. While most squid lay their eggs in masses on the sea bed, some squid carry a clutch of eggs to guard them. The adult squid does not live long after mating. Baby squid hatch as larvae and grow into maturity in about 3-5 years.
Squids have many predators, including humans. Other predators are: sharks, some fish, whales, and other squids. The squid has defense mechanisms like the octopus.
Squids live in oceans. Giant squids lurk in deep depths of 660 to 2300 feet under the sea, while other species like to swim about and call the middle layer of the ocean home.
What is a snail?
Snails belong to a group of animals with a soft body, called mollusks. Snails
are also known as gastropods (literally translated as stomach foot, the name
implies the structure of their body. The snail stomach lies above it’s feet.).
They have soft, unsegmented bodies which are protected by a hard shell. The body
of the snail is long, moist and slimy. The snail moves by gliding along on mucus
that it secretes.
What is a slug? A slug is very similar to a snail, the only difference is that slugs do not have shells. It is also a mollusk and is known as a gastropod. Slugs also use mucus to slide across surfaces.
The common snail favors moist environments and search for a moist home that is well shaded. You may find them under logs, leaf debris in the forest or bricks. They can be seen out and about shortly after a rain, or during high humidity.
Most gastropods are herbivores and eat fungi, dead animal material and plant matter, such as bulbs, leaves and stems.
Gastropod predators include: ground beetles, snakes, frogs, toads, turtles, birds, chickens, ducks and geese.
Slugs and snails love moist environments. You are most likely to find a slug or snail after a nice warm rain has finished! Just look by the shrubs or in the garden and you will find a few!
Slugs are considered pest