Cephalopod Collection

Roman seafood mosaic. Mosaics consist of small pieces of coloured glass or stone, used to form an image or pattern on a floor or wall

Giant octopus
Plate 26 from Histoire naturelle des Mollusques by Count Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon, 1805

Engraving of a nautilus and an ammonite. The nautilus is one of the species of marine cephalopods of the family Nautilidae

Extinct marine reptiles
Sheet 1 of a series of posters called Extinct Animals by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins c. 1862. This collection of marine reptiles lived during the Jurassic period between 200

Asteroceras, fossil ammonite
A 16 cm diameter specimen of the Jurassic ammonite Asteroceras from the Lower Jurassic of Dorset, England

Octopus
Watercolour 401 by the Port Jackson Painter, from the Watling Collection

Ammonite fossil, SEM
Ammonite fossil, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Ammonites were invertebrates and lived in the sea. They were molluscs that formed a spiral shell to protect their soft body

Common octopus, 19th century
Octopus. Engraving showing a common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). This engraving was first published in Sea Monsters Unmasked by Henry Lee, printed at London in 1883

Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena sp. )
Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena sp.)

Doryaspis swim amongst a bed of Anthozoa
8-inch-long jawless fish of the genus Doryaspis swim amongst a bed of Anthozoa of the order Actiniaria (AKA sea anemones) 410 million years ago in what is today the Svalbard archipelago in Norway

Sir Joseph Banks herbarium and library at Soho Square
Sir Joseph Banks herbarium and part library in his house at 32 Soho Square, London. It remained there until 1827 when it was moved to the British Museum at Montagu House

1, animal, animals, aquatic, belauensis, blue, bodies, body, cephalopod, cephalopods
Palau Nautilus (Nautilus belauensis), Palau, Micronesia, Pacific

Argonauta hians, brown paper nautilus
A pair of brown paper nautilus (Argonauta hians). This delicate-shelled cephalopod is distributed in warm seas globally

Sepia officinalis, cuttlefish, side view

Nautilus pompilius, common nautilus
A section through a common nautilus (Nautilus pompiius) showing the internal divisions into chambers and siphuncles

Mimika bobtail squid (Euprymna morsei), Hokkaido, Japan, Pacific Ocean

Giant pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) swimming freely after release from captivity, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, Pacific Ocean

Belemnotheutis antiquus, squid
A well-preserved Upper Jurassic squid aged 160 million years. This specimen originates from Christian Malford, Wiltshire

Seven squid and octopuses
Tableau 2 from Albertus Sebas Thesaurus, Vol 3, 1759

Wonderpus octopus (Octopus sp.) hunting on the seabed. This octopus changes its body shape and colour to confuse predators

Nautilus shell. Section through the shell of a nautilus (Nautilus sp.), revealing its spiral structure and chambers (camerae). The nautilus is a marine cephalopod related to the squid

Octopus attacking a ship
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Fossilised ammonite (Asteroceras obtusum). Ammonites are an extinct group of molluscs that are thought to be related to modern cephalopods such as octopus, squid and cuttlefish

Ammonite fossil C016 / 5777
Ammonite (Parkinsonia dorsetensis) fossil. This ammonite has an evolute shell and is displaying complex suture lines. Specimen originates from the Middle Jurassic

Shonisaurus marine reptile, artwork
Shonisaurus marine reptile. Artwork of a Shonisaurus hunting a shoal of belemnites. This extinct reptile lived 215 million years ago

Orthocerid hunting trilobites, artwork. Orthocerids are extinct members of the Cephalopoda class of marine animals that include squids, octopuses and nautiloids

Oval squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana). Sea Cave, Oahu, Hawaii (N. Pacific) (rr)
Andre Seale / SpecialistStock

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) Close up Scraggane, The Maharees, County Kerry, Ireland
Alan James / SplashdownDirect

Larval Wonderpus octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus) drifting in the open ocean at night off Anilao, Philippines

Emperor nautilus cephalopod in its shell, Nautilus pompilius. Illustration drawn
FLO4683488 Emperor nautilus cephalopod in its shell, Nautilus pompilius. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Emperor nautilus cephalopod out of its shell. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder
FLO4974668 Emperor nautilus cephalopod out of its shell. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from George Shaw

Bioluminescent Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea), St. Vincent, Eastern Caribbean

Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) experiencing freedom after release from captivity, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, Pacific Ocean

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) close up of eye, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) on a coral reef, The Bahamas. August

Veined Octopus, Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus, formerly Octopus marginatus), inhabiting discarded bivalve mollusc shells, which it collects and pulls around itself - defense, shelter

Free swimming mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea

Wonderpus octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus) in its juvenile or larval stage. At this stage it is transparent and drifts in the open ocean as plankton. Anilao, Philippines

Pfeffers flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) composite image on black background showing colour variations, Puerto Galera, Philippines, Indo-Pacific

Female Day octopus (Octopus cyanea) drifting in the ocean, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean

Oval squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) photographed at night, Green Island, Taiwan. Minimum fees apply

Group of Bigfin reef squids (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) swimming at night, Indonesia, Sea of Flores

Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) swimming at night, Indonesia, Sea of Flores

Day octopus (Octopus cyanea) female, in mid-water, Hawaii

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) male hovers over sea oak (Halidrys siliquosa). Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon, England, United Kingdom. English Channel. North East Atlantic Ocean

Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea) eating fish at night, portrait. The Bahamas

Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) showing arms and suckers, Vernon Rock, Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia, Canada. September

Stubby squid (Rossia pacifica) Nigei Island, Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia, Canada

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"Exploring the Enigmatic World of Cephalopods: From Ancient Mosaics to Living Wonders" Dive into the captivating realm of cephalopods, as we unravel their intriguing story through various hints scattered across time. Starting with a Roman seafood mosaic, depicting an array of marine creatures, our attention is drawn to the mesmerizing giant octopus that has fascinated humans for centuries. Moving forward in history, an engraving showcasing a nautilus and an ammonite reminds us of these ancient relatives of modern-day cephalopods. These extinct marine reptiles once roamed the oceans alongside fascinating creatures like Asteroceras, a fossil ammonite frozen in time. Shifting our focus to present times, we encounter the enigmatic octopus - intelligent and elusive beings that continue to captivate scientists and enthusiasts alike. An astonishing SEM image reveals intricate details of an ammonite fossil while highlighting its significance in understanding Earth's past. Traveling back further in time, we stumble upon a 19th-century depiction of the common octopus - showcasing its unique characteristics and vibrant colors. However, not all cephalopods boast such flamboyance; enter the Blue-ringed Octopus with its stunning blue rings serving as both beauty and warning. As we delve deeper into this diverse group of animals known as cephalopods, we come across Argonauta hians or brown paper nautilus - displaying incredible craftsmanship by creating delicate shells from secreted materials. Meanwhile, Sepia officinalis or cuttlefish amazes us with its side view revealing remarkable adaptations for survival. From ancient mosaics portraying Roman delicacies to fossils preserving long-lost species like ammonites and marine reptiles – cephalopods have left their mark throughout history. Today's living wonders such as giant octopuses and colorful blue-ringed octopi remind us that there is still much more to uncover about these intelligent and mysterious creatures that inhabit our aquatic world.