Marine biologist captures octopus changing colors as it dreams and captivates audiences

Humans may have adapted to diverse environments but there are certain species that have adopted mindblowing tactics to assimilate into their surroundings. Despite a plethora of research, there is a lot that humans don't know about the planet and fascinating creatures that inhabit it. When Dr. David Scheel, a professor at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage managed to capture an octopus sleeping on camera, he was astonished and could not wait to share the footage with marine enthusiasts. To date, he has conducted research on mammals, and marine invertebrates. The footage featured the octopus changing colors while in a stupor. Due to Scheel's passing knowledge about dream mechanisms in animals, he was able to narrate his thoughts on what he believes is going through the creature's mind. The whole exercise was part of a documentary titled "Octopus: Making Contact" which aired on PBS.

The video features Heidi, the octopus sleeping comfortably in her aquarium, as per Bored Panda. Thereafter, she slowly begins to change colors from a darker woody shade to white. She takes on several shades manifesting the impact of her dreams. As the viewer witnesses this phenomenon, Scheel narrates what he feels is going through Heidi's mind. His first observation is, "She sees a crab, and her color starts to change a little bit." He implies that the octopus has seen something that has piqued her interest, and now wants to chase it. Following this Heidi becomes completely dark which Scheel interprets as her leaving "the bottom."

Her camouflage showcases that she has caught her prey and is now preparing to feast on it in silence. The video is captivating because usually, it is very difficult to capture an octopus sleeping in this manner. Camouflage is a mechanism that octopuses use for their safety, but having it on display while sleeping adds another dimension to the physiological processes active in these animals. In the documentary, Scheel also showcases how Heidi identifies as a pet after being in the company of humans. As Heidi stays with Scheel's family, she begins to recognize faces and also expresses an inclination to play with his daughter. Heidi's other abilities like solving puzzles, using tools, and escaping through small spaces are also highlighted in the documentary.

In Scheel's opinion, Octopuses are magnificent creatures who deserve more attention. He said, "Octopuses are inherently interesting creatures. I have also spent time studying African lions, bats and rodents, killer whales, seals, seabirds, and crabs, among other animals. They are all interesting. Over the years though octopuses have stayed a constant while work with the other has come and gone.”  Scheel emphasized in detail how sleep manifests itself in this species, “Sleep can be recognized behaviorally, and studies have found that both octopuses and their relatives cuttlefish have behaviors that satisfy the definition of sleep: they become quiescent and less responsive to disturbance but can be roused. After a period of sleep deprivation, they sleep longer to catch up. And their brains are active during these sleep behaviors.” He wants to understand more about their behavioral pattern and cognition.