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1547
1548

Stunning photo of an octopus near Vesuvius, Italy (imgur.com)

submitted ago by AvalancheCollapse

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[–]OberonDark 65 points66 points ago

I'm no marine biologist, but if that is legit it really is stunning.

[–]JXiaty 31 points32 points ago

it really is terrifying

FTFY

[–]thirdman59 18 points19 points ago

all I can Imagine is that octopus talking in an english accent saying "mhm yes quite"

[–]artydecor 1 point2 points ago

I imagine him with Squidward's nasally voice...

[–]chronox21 10 points11 points ago

Wasn't Squidward...you know, a squid?

[–]Cwaynejames 9 points10 points ago

Get your logic out of here.

[–]artydecor 2 points3 points ago

Um... oh man... I feel really embarrassed and self-conscious now...

Edit: But then why does he look like an octopus? Don't squids have arrow-y heads? Somethings not right here...

[–]chronox21 1 point2 points ago

Since when can a sea sponge be a fry cook or live in a pineapple under the sea?

edit: typo from my phone.

[–]OttoTheDude 11 points12 points ago

seems legit.

[–]brain56 1 point2 points ago

scumbag OP uploads picture to imgur instead of linking to source

[–]AT361 3 points4 points ago

In his defense, most people wouldn't have clicked the link if it didn't say imgur...

At least he linked to the original here

[–]norwegian-dude 0 points1 point ago

snow-covered Vesuvius

Yes, snow-covered. This was my view a couple winters ago.

[–]SquishyManatee 0 points1 point ago

Happy Birthday!

[–]dustintheweb 1 point2 points ago

best get kraken

[–]EthicalReasoning 1 point2 points ago

its from national geographic

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/octopus-vesuvius/

[–]MrConnerr 0 points1 point ago

I wonder if this one predicts the world cup

[–]EmuSoFly 21 points22 points ago

My biggest fear in life are Octopuses. Octopi. Octop.. What's the name?

[–]Badman2 50 points51 points ago

octopi=25.1327412

[–]BetterThanOP 10 points11 points ago

one of the best math jokes i've heard

[–]Dragon_yum 5 points6 points ago

So glad you didn't derail this into a pun thread :)

[–]Mackinstyle 2 points3 points ago

Ever heard the one about the hypotamoose?

[–]franzmeister 0 points1 point ago

Could someone enlighten me about this very equation?

[–]UnalteredChange 1 point2 points ago

The octopi is a distant relative of pi. Ancient mathematicians used it to calculate the angles in between the arms of an octopus.

Right..?

[–]DirgeHumani 20 points21 points ago

Octopodes

[–]officeface 9 points10 points ago

I think that Octopuses is ok to use, whilst Octopodes is the correct term. Octopi is wrong because Octopus isn't a Latin word, but Greek. Pretty sure this came up on Reddit the other day, though can't remember where!

[–]TurboNerd 1 point2 points ago

It was originally on Reddit over a year ago in an AMA by some famous linguist I believe? Or it was a video, not sure. It's been a Reddit meme ever since.

[–]Gorau 0 points1 point ago

I think this is the video you speak of, it has at least been on reddit.

[–]blanchasaurus 0 points1 point ago

Link to Youtube video

[–]bluecrucial 2 points3 points ago

Kory Stamper can clear this up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFyY2mK8pxk

[–]AReallyGoodName 1 point2 points ago

I was always taught "if get bit by an Octopus you will probably die!" from a young age.

I still freak out a bit at the sight of an Octopus.

[–]EmuSoFly 3 points4 points ago

I was 4 or 5 years old when I was on vacation on Mallorca, Spain for the first time.

I was walking with my family along the beach, and my mother talks to my father about a time when my godfather was out diving for octopodes.

She said he got caught by a octopus tentacle and nearly drowned and died. I asked her what die meant and she explain it to me. I freaked the fuck out. I have never heard of death before.

I thought octopodes was the meanest most horrible creature in the world. I ordered a entire grilled squid later.

It tasted like payback, really tasty payback.

[–]tubefox 1 point2 points ago

"Octopodes" is what's actually correct, although don't be surprised if spellcheck misses it.

"Octopi" is just flat-out wrong. It's based on a misunderstanding of the Latin root word.

"Octopuses" isn't "right," but it is acceptable.

Or at least that's what an English usage dictionary once told me.

[–]UsingYourWifi 1 point2 points ago

The general feedback I've heard is that octopi aren't interested in eating or hurting you, but they are very curious. That curiosity is generally harmless, but if a really big one decides to closely inspect your SCUBA mouthpiece he isn't going to consider that it needs to stay in your mouth to keep you from dying.

[–]EmuSoFly 0 points1 point ago

Yeah, I know. But it's one of those irrational fears, you know.

[–]injekted 1 point2 points ago

You're an octopussy.

[–]drawing_duds 1 point2 points ago

Octo dud

[–]zedee 0 points1 point ago

Octopussies, like Bond's movie.

[–]SourCreamWater 0 points1 point ago

Why?

[–]EmuSoFly -1 points0 points ago

I explained above:

I was 4 or 5 years old when I was on vacation on Mallorca, Spain for the first time.

I was walking with my family along the beach, and my mother talks to my father about a time when my godfather was out diving for octopodes.

She said he got caught by a octopus tentacle and nearly drowned and died. I asked her what die meant and she explain it to me. I freaked the fuck out. I have never heard of death before.

I thought octopodes was the meanest most horrible creature in the world. I ordered a entire grilled squid later.

It tasted like payback, really tasty payback.

[–]SourCreamWater 2 points3 points ago

Hahah sorry. Hadn't seen your other comment.

I have spent my whole life in the ocean and only once encountered an octopus touching my body.

I was headed out to go snorkeling at La Jolla Cove...so I was walking backwards because walking forward in fins is retarded. Anyway, the place gets deep really quick and I was only about 1.5 ft deep and a wave washed an octopus around my leg.

I looked down and freaked. I was flailing around in my scuba fins and fell on the beach in front of a summer weekend's population of people and fell on my ass. Pretty embarrassing.

It didn't hurt me at all. Just startling. I have surfed my whole life so I have had many worse experiences with different sea creatures, but that one was just funny. I'd say it was about 3 feet from end to end.

EDIT: I'm curious as to where your story happened. I am in Southern California and there is nothing big enough here that could take a human down.

[–]EmuSoFly 1 point2 points ago

Shit, I would freak out if that happened to me. I did try surfing for a couple of weeks about three months ago when in Thailand and I loved it. I still daydream about it. That said, I'm scared shitless of Octopods and the ocean in general (was in the Tsunami which added a whole lot of fear) but I always manage to enjoy the water if I'm relatively close to the beach.

This happened in Spain, where my godfather is from. I'm not quite sure about the details and I would ask my mom about but she has passed.

I'm going to ask my godmother next time I see her.

EDIT: They were hunting octopods.

All I remember is that his brother managed to save him somehow, or maybe it was my godfather that saved his brother. It's all pretty blurry since it was a looong time ago.

[–]SourCreamWater 0 points1 point ago

Damn...the tsunami? That's gnarly.

I was on a surf trip in Indonesia and they had sea snakes there. They were very curious so they would swim right up to you but never hurt anyone while I was there. There's sharks everywhere, so I wish the news just wouldn't tell me about sightings unless there is an attack. 30 yrs + in the water and multiple sightings and never been hurt.

Damn stingrays and Jellies though. Fuckers.

Glad your Godfather escaped without injury. :)

EDIT: I should say that not all jellies hurt that much. I have been stung by the purple guys no less than 20 times and it feels like an instant rash. The clear ones(that we have in Southern CA) hurt way more. Of course if it's something in Australia...you're gonna have a bad time.

[–]EmuSoFly 0 points1 point ago

Yeah, there's sharks all over the place in Thailand too, but they're tiny. Reefsharks is the name of the species, I believe.

I got stung too, it didn't hurt too bad but it was my first time and I had al little trouble breathing. Yeah, Australian jellyfish are mental. I saw a video about this tiny little jellyfish that was the most poisonous one that could kill you almost instantly.

[–]SourCreamWater 1 point2 points ago

Yeah, that's a Irukandji. Those things and Box Jellies are GNARLY!

The sharks we have here are mostly Blue Sharks, which only get to about 6 feet but are some of the most aggressive. We have Hammerheads, Threshers, Tigers, and the occasional Great white, but the Hammers usually stay around piers and the others just aren't that common.

[–]ILL_Show_Myself_Out 8 points9 points ago

They're like aliens!

[–]Carninator 7 points8 points ago

I hate seaweed :( Much scarier than anything else in the ocean.

[–]daithiocoinnigh 4 points5 points ago

high res

http://www.fotografiaprofessionale.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Uno-sguardo-sul-golgo1.jpg

[–]Chocko_Rocko 8 points9 points ago

Credit: National Geographic.

[–]stompsfrogs 3 points4 points ago

found hi-res version for my desktop here

[–]anniewk 16 points17 points ago

I might be an idiot, but this seems suuuuper shopped. Love to be told otherwise.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

I think it looks like something from a miniature set stop-motion animation video.

[–]AvalancheCollapse[S] 41 points42 points ago

its from national geographic, so its totally real. source

[–]Nessie 3 points4 points ago

As real as the pyramids of Egypt!

[–]bw1870 5 points6 points ago

"Despite the strong human presence on the coast, an octopus is curious about snow-covered Vesuvius."

What an idiotic caption for that pic...lol. I think the octopus neither sees nor gives the littlest shit about Vesuvius.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

Thanks. It's definitely weird, but also fascinating.

[–]whitoreo 0 points1 point ago

otherwise

[–]anniewk 0 points1 point ago

Yay! I love being told otherwise!

[–]whitoreo 0 points1 point ago

It might actually be... Who says NG can't clean up their photos or do a little HDR? They probably use P-Shop to do this. Anyway... Here's a few Otherwise's to cheer up your day: Otherwise, otherwise, OTherwise, OtherWise, OtherWISe

[–]Journalisto 2 points3 points ago

I wonder if he's just warming up his head.

[–]i-n-g-o 8 points9 points ago

The part above water is actually his ass, with his hearts (sic) and some other stuff.

http://universe-review.ca/I10-82-octopus.jpg

[–]niomosy 2 points3 points ago

So what you're saying is, he's mooning the people passing by?

[–]i-n-g-o 2 points3 points ago

It's showing its ass to the italian austerity measures.

[–]OminousPiousApe 0 points1 point ago

It seems the octopus is farting into our space, just as humans have done in its own habitat.

[–]niomosy 0 points1 point ago

Sounds like he's farting in our general direction and waving his privates at us.

We should probably go away before he taunts us a second time.

[–]burgess_meredith_jr 0 points1 point ago

Searing in the juices.

[–]IaAranaDiscoteca 2 points3 points ago

RELEASE THE KRAKEN.

[–]hannahbonanza 1 point2 points ago

That's really surreal.

[–]greytyrecolour 1 point2 points ago

Octopus salad 2000 years ago.

[–]AaaaawYeeeeea 1 point2 points ago

If this is real then I am scared for life now. Octopusiophobia, I welcome you.

[–]Dayanx 1 point2 points ago

Science tested, Lovecraft Approved.

[–]munsterCR37 1 point2 points ago

Word is, he lost his job when austerity was implemented. That's why he's just sitting around in shallow water now. So sad.

[–]AVVIT 1 point2 points ago

I would Love to think rite after this Picture it turned around and Said "Dammit I wasn't Looking take it again"

[–]diz75 1 point2 points ago

If you have a jailbroken iPhone its perfect for a lock screen background..keeps the balance of the old black bar http://i.imgur.com/M88wG.jpg

[–]sundressmomma 1 point2 points ago

beautiful but NOPE.

[–]M0b1u5 1 point2 points ago

OK, it really is stunning. Have your upvote.

On a different note, if humans disappeared, I think cephalopods would be the next species to develop technology.

They are smart as hell, have incredible dexterity, at least 7 opposing digits, have excellent eye-sight, and could likely develop into an air-breathing creature given enough time.

[–]mifuyne 9 points10 points ago

If only they'd stop dying after reproduction.

[–]TSED 2 points3 points ago

They won't venture on to land.

The terrestrial climate was colonized too long ago, and now there are species which have millions and millions and millions of years of an evolutionary head start up here. This is the equivalent of Britain trying to re-colonize the USA right now.

Now, that doesn't mean that cephalopods couldn't develop intelligent societies and cultures. There are many species that can change their skin colour - so a form of communication is possible. In fact, since it's already visually based, systems of writing would probably be easier to develop. There are already cephalopod species that form schools, so tribes / etc. aren't too far away. Unlike whales and dolphins (which have also demonstrated tool use), they have very dextrous limbs that can manipulate objects easily and provide multiple leverage angles (unlike the mouths of cetaceans). So on and so forth.

TL;DR No, they won't get on land, but that doesn't mean they're out of the race.

[–]emq11 0 points1 point ago

This picture is super good! Its cool to see what the water looks like so clear!

Octopuses scare the shit out of me though.

[–]ReyRey5280 0 points1 point ago

delicious tako...

[–]HillbillyScientist 0 points1 point ago

How pomp, eh?

[–]TalesAbound 0 points1 point ago

That is one mighty fine lookin' octopus.

[–]wastedrepublic 0 points1 point ago

I think I won't go swimming this summer.

[–]djevikkshar 0 points1 point ago

If that's vesuvius in the back ground I don't think you know what "near" means

[–]Chive 2 points3 points ago

It's about as near Vesuvius as an octopus can get while remaining in its natural habitat. It's also near enough that Vesuvius is in the background of the shot rather than, for example, the Statue of Liberty.

[–]wheres_the_clitoris 0 points1 point ago

Imagine how good at Math we'd be if we had heads like that.

[–]The_sinking_anus 0 points1 point ago

Seems almost unreal looking at that.

[–]pilvy 0 points1 point ago

Pinky and the Brain brain brain brain...

[–]planterspeanuts 0 points1 point ago

All I can think of when looking at that photo is a nice plate of grilled and fried calamari

[–]dynty 0 points1 point ago

i think that it is computer render..

[–]Chive 1 point2 points ago

If it is then National Geographic has been fooled.

[–]RedditMole 0 points1 point ago

Why do I always see the top part of the octopus as its whole head?

[–]theonlyalterego 0 points1 point ago

damn nature, you wet!

[–]BlackwaterSkyeIV 0 points1 point ago

Oh yea? Well if it's near Vesuvius then how come it's not petrified like everything else? Nice try, but you can't fool me.

[–]devilishloki 0 points1 point ago

looks delicious

[–]Golemfrost 0 points1 point ago

What an amazing pic !

[–]smilingonion 0 points1 point ago

They are so smart we'd probably be bowing down to our Octopi(?) overlords if they didn't have such short lifespans

[–]nzulauf 0 points1 point ago

I hate reddit's use of the word stunning...

[–]Benevolent-Molester 0 points1 point ago

"ocho muerte"

[–]QUOWNthepatient 0 points1 point ago

stupid octopus thinks its so good doing octopus things, i can do that but i don't because i am a human

[–]GrooveCombo 0 points1 point ago

Hey guys! We found the Octopus's garden.

[–]Megustatits 0 points1 point ago

Soooo..I thought it was shopped, but then saw it was on NG...so is it just a trick of the eyes photo? How tiny is that little guy?

[–]sprz 0 points1 point ago

...I'd like to be!

[–]SMac127 0 points1 point ago

I've never even been to Mt Vesuvias!

[–]I_Dont_Always 0 points1 point ago

Looks like an alien.

[–]your21girl 0 points1 point ago

nope

[–]bigmac3d 0 points1 point ago

That's a Philosoctopus.

[–]EveryoneElseIsWrong 0 points1 point ago

this looks incredibly shopped

[–]Stanky_LIP 0 points1 point ago

I can only imagine jumping from rock to rock And then there's the octopus head and you step on it and sink

[–]ipster76 0 points1 point ago

suddenly, volcano

[–]losangeles11 0 points1 point ago

I honestly thought that was a painting from just the thumbnail.

[–]Pelican_Fly 0 points1 point ago

fish out of water, called it.

[–]Ease_on_by 0 points1 point ago

As someone who has spent a fair bit of time on and around the water in the gulf of naples, I question this a little bit. The water around naples is disgusting, if anyone cares to google the naples rubbish situation you can read up on it. You really have to head further north to the amalfi coast before you get water this clear.

[–]TSED -1 points0 points ago

Clear water's actually a sign of unhealthy water ecosystems...

[–]Five_deadly_venoms -2 points-1 points ago

Stunning? No. Cool pic? Yes.

[–]cooper_510 -1 points0 points ago

..... and then I realised, I've never even been to Mount Vesuvius!

[–]Newdles -1 points0 points ago

If this was truly taken in Italy, No more than 5 minutes after the photographer took said photo, I guaruntee somebody took that octopus out of the water and slammed him on the rocks so they can take him home and cook him. I've seen it hundreds of times here in Italy..

[–]StickyToffee 0 points1 point ago

I've always killed octopuses before slamming them on the rocks, seems a bit cruel beating such an intelligent creature to death...

[–]ookiisask 0 points1 point ago

out of curiosity, how does one kill an octopus if not by blunt force trauma? I mean, they don't exactly have necks to break or anything. I'm not familiar with octopus fishing and pacification methods, so it's a foreign concept to me.

[–]StickyToffee 0 points1 point ago

A few different ways, most fishermen trap them in special pots baited with lobster or crab or something. Some people use a harpoon or a trident. Personally, I used to coax one out of its nest, and let it wander up my arm a bit, then quickly put my hand in the mantle and tear out the innards to kill it near instantly.

[–]AvalancheCollapse[S] 0 points1 point ago

thats very sad to hear, octopuses are such beautiful creatures

[–]Newdles 0 points1 point ago

yeah, but italians unfortunately love to eat them like chicken.

[–]Athene_Wins -1 points0 points ago

It got a big head

[–]joetromboni -2 points-1 points ago

looks like that alien from American Dad

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