The mimic octopus can impersonate 15 different marine species to trick predators.

Discovered in 1998 off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia, the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is the first known species to take on the characteristics of multiple animals. While many cephalopods change color to blend into their surroundings, this species actively adjusts its posture to resemble specific toxic animals. Researchers from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and other institutions have documented it mimicking lionfish, sea snakes, and sole.To mimic a sea snake, the octopus hides six of its arms in a burrow and extends the remaining two in opposite directions, displaying the black and yellow bands typical of the venomous reptile. When imitating a flatfish, it pulls its arms back into a leaf shape and uses jet propulsion to glide along the ocean floor. This behavior is considered a form of 'dynamic mimicry' because the octopus chooses its disguise based on the predator it sees.Studies published in journals like 'Proceedings of the Royal Society B' highlight that this octopus lives in nutrient-rich but open estuarine waters. Because there is little cover from predators like large tuna or sharks, the ability to appear as a dangerous creature is a vital survival mechanism. Its skin contains chromatophores, which are pigment-containing cells that allow it to change patterns and textures in less than a second.