Octopus Turns into a Balloon to Intimidate ROV

The ROV Hercules caught wonderful video of an octopus, possibly Cirrothauma magna, putting on a defensive display of puffing itself up to warn off threats. It stretches out, wiggles its "ears," turns into an umbrella, then a tent, then a balloon, then a parachute, all to the delight of the crew watching aboard the E/V Nautilus. This octopus was spotted 1600 meters (one mile) below the surface of the Pacific, near Southwest Baker Island, just north of the equator. (via Laughing Squid)