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Science 22 February 1963:
Vol. 139. no. 3556, pp. 764 - 766
DOI: 10.1126/science.139.3556.764
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Articles

Tremoctopus violaceus Uses Physalia Tentacles as Weapons

Everet C. Jones 1

1 U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Biological Laboratory, Honolulu, Hawaii

Immature octopods (Tremoctopus violaceus) have been found with numerous fragments of tentacles of the coelenterate Physalia attached to the suckers of their dorsal arms. The probable method of acquisition, the evidence of adaptation for holding the tentacles, and the possibility that the octopod uses these coelenterate tentacles as offensive and defensive weapons are discussed.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)