Meet a massive, many-tentacled, and ever-so-clever mastermind of the deep in this elegant tribute to an astonishing problem solver.
Elaine M. Alexander and illustrator Khoa Le offer a gripping and visually stunning account of the life cycle and behaviors of the reclusive giant Pacific octopus. Readers fascinated by marine life and creatures of the deep will delight in discovering the wild intelligence of a species known as the genius of the sea. The world’s largest octopus species—growing to a staggering sixteen feet long and weighing up to 150 pounds—starts out no bigger than a grain of rice. But with a knack for outwitting predators, giant Pacific octopuses enjoy an impressive life span. Camouflage experts, they use quick skin changes to blend with their surroundings or appear larger and more threatening. When all else fails, the wily octopus can elude attackers on land for up to thirty minutes. Aquarium keepers have caught these artful dodgers roaming the halls, prompting marine biologists to devise challenging puzzles to keep them engaged in their tanks! Back matter includes a glossary and a bibliography and illuminates this remarkable cephalopod’s life cycle and adaptations, its hunting and mating behaviors, and threats to its survival.
