Why do octopuses squirt ink?
Octopuses squirt ink to make a dark cloud, so they can hide and zoom away!
Pip’s answer
- Octopuses squirt ink to make a dark cloud, so they can hide and zoom away!
- The inky cloud is like a big curtain in the water.
- While the cloud floats, the octopus swims off fast to a safe spot. Whoosh!
- Wow-ee, buddy, some octopuses can even change color to match the rocks!
Try it together
Can you wiggle your arms like a swishy octopus?
For grown-ups
When threatened, many octopuses release a cloud of dark ink. The ink hides them while they jet away, and it can dull a predator's sense of smell. Some species even release blobs of ink shaped roughly like themselves as decoys.
Ask your child: What tricks do other animals use to hide?
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