West Seattle wildlife: Giant Pacific Octopus, close up

You never know what you are going to find on the beach at low tide. This closeup look at an octopus arm found south of Alki Point a few days ago is courtesy of West Seattle photographer Machel Spence. She even found the upper mandible of its beak – the only hard part of an octopus’s body:

Probably not the same octopus – but two weeks ago, Jana and her kids found an intact octopus on a local beach; we’d been saving those photos – click ahead if you’re interested in seeing one:

Almost everything you need to know about octopuses, including fun facts, is here.

4 Replies to "West Seattle wildlife: Giant Pacific Octopus, close up"

  • kumalavula April 29, 2012 (6:38 pm)

    wowzers!!!!
    great photos of animals that share the puget sound with us, but that not many people get to see up close.

  • Charlotte April 29, 2012 (9:08 pm)

    I had no idea that those guys lived in the Puget Sound! Thanks for the fascinating link!

  • Kathy April 29, 2012 (11:05 pm)

    There is a live octopus named Ophelia in the acquarium at the Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) in Redondo, just south of Des Moines, open from 10am to 2pm Saturday. Turn right at 272nd and Pacific Highway South. Admission is free, suggested donation $2 per person. You can also see the skeleton and baleen of the whale that beached near Fauntleroy there.

  • Cheryl April 30, 2012 (2:42 pm)

    Love these critters! And these pics are awesome. Thanks for sharing them. And thanks for the link to the Wild Pacific NW website as well. Can’t wait to share this stuff with my kindergarten aged daughter.

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