Feb 25 2025 24 mins 10
Books and movies portray shape shifting characters, but those are fictional. Meet some true shape shifters: the octopuses. Discover how they rapidly change color and form not through fictional magic but by natural, God-engineered designs.
Here’s our trail map:
- How Do Octopuses Change Colors?
- How Do Octopuses Change Shapes?
- What Is a Hairy Octopus?
- How Can We Be Careful of Mimicry in Life?
Episode Links:
Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
Free Octopus Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/how-do-octopuses-change-color/
How to make a homemade photo field notes set: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFYwsb4y_8X/
Save $10 on an order at Parabo Press: https://www.parabo.press/?coupon=NAT10&utm_source=NatTheoPodcast
Try CTCMath’s simple and effective math lessons: https://ctcmath.com/
Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
Listen to the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast: https://podcast.schoolhouserocked.com/
Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615
Sources used for research:
Octopus and Squid: The Soft Intelligence by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Philippe Diole
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery
Cephalopod Camouflage: Cells and Organs of the Skin by Ryan Gilmore, B.S., Robyn Crook, PhD, and Jacob L Krans, Phd.
https://octonation.com/tiny-hairy-octopus/
Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:
“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.” Matthew 7:15 (NLT)
“But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth…” John 16:13 (NCV)
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)
Terms Learned in This Episode:
Skin Cells: Microscopic cells that build up together to create skin tissue.
Chromatophore: Special skin cells with 18-20 muscles around them that pull and relax to reveal or hide colors inside the cells. The outermost layer of an octopus’s skin is made of chromatophores.
Iridophore: Special skin cells with crystal-like structures (nanocrystals) that can reflect light and appear shimmering green, blue, pink, silver, or gold. These make the second layer of octopus skin.
Leucophores: Special skin cells that scatter light and appear white, creating a blank canvas for other colored skin cells to appear brighter. These make the third layer of octopus skin.
Invertabrate: Animals without backbones.
Papillae: Skin bumps on an octopus that they can raise to rapidly change the texture of their skin.
Hydrostats: Tightly packed, rigid muscles with fluid in them that support an octopus’s body and control their skin papillae.
Mimic: To imitate or pretend to be something you are not.
This podcast episode contains paid advertisements. All testimonies are the honest reviews of the host after personally using each product and service.
