What does the mimic octopus eat?

Mimic octopuses typically eat small crustaceans and fish. They are usually found in muddy river bottoms and estuaries. The species was discovered in 1998, off the coast of Indonesia.

Mimic octopuses earned their name because they impersonate sea snakes, lionfish and flatfish in efforts to avoid predators. Mimic octopuses are the first known species to take on the characteristics of multiple species. They grow to around 60 cm in length, and are commonly colored with brown and white stripes. These octopuses have been observed to mimic a predator specific to the species posing the threat. Scientists have noted their extreme intelligence, which aligns with the octopus species as a whole.