Octopus Odyssey and Discovery Zone
Zone
Octopus Odyssey
Octopus Odyssey is home to common octopus and lesser octopus – both found around UK shores – the tropical white-spotted octopus and the extraordinary wonderpus octopus, from South East Asia. The display has a sunken ship theme and includes one large and three smaller tanks.
The wonderpus octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus) is found in the shallow waters of South East Asia. It has a dramatic colour pattern of white bars and spots over a brown-red background. The species was only formally described in 2006. The unique pattern of spots means you can identify individuals. The white-spotted octopus (Octopus macropus) is also a tropical species. It is native to coral reefs in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and has reddish skin with white body spots. It can grow up to 2 metres in length. The lesser octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) is a cold water species found off British shores as well as in the Mediterranean. It grows up to 50 cm (20 inches) in body length and lives in depths of up to 500m (1500ft). It has the ability to change both the colour and the texture of its skin. Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) usually measure around 60 centimetres in length, but can grow up to one metre. They change colour according to mood and situation, but individuals are usually greyish-yellow or brownish-green with extensive mottling. They are often very well camouflaged. This octopus is found from the southern North Sea down to the Mediterranean and on to South Africa. It reaches the north-eastern extreme of its range in Britain where it is found only around the coasts of the south and south west. The Discovery Zone features an interactive magic floor, and a series of specially-created penguin computer game-stations called Penguin Academy.
Octopus Odyssey is home to common octopus and lesser octopus – both found around UK shores – the tropical white-spotted octopus and the extraordinary wonderpus octopus, from South East Asia. The display has a sunken ship theme and includes one large and three smaller tanks.
The wonderpus octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus) is found in the shallow waters of South East Asia. It has a dramatic colour pattern of white bars and spots over a brown-red background. The species was only formally described in 2006. The unique pattern of spots means you can identify individuals. The white-spotted octopus (Octopus macropus) is also a tropical species. It is native to coral reefs in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and has reddish skin with white body spots. It can grow up to 2 metres in length. The lesser octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) is a cold water species found off British shores as well as in the Mediterranean. It grows up to 50 cm (20 inches) in body length and lives in depths of up to 500m (1500ft). It has the ability to change both the colour and the texture of its skin. Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) usually measure around 60 centimetres in length, but can grow up to one metre. They change colour according to mood and situation, but individuals are usually greyish-yellow or brownish-green with extensive mottling. They are often very well camouflaged. This octopus is found from the southern North Sea down to the Mediterranean and on to South Africa. It reaches the north-eastern extreme of its range in Britain where it is found only around the coasts of the south and south west. The Discovery Zone features an interactive magic floor, and a series of specially-created penguin computer game-stations called Penguin Academy.
Featured Areas
Penguin Academy
A series of touch-screen gamestations where you can learn all about penguins and how they live.
Cyber Seaside
Cyber Seaside is an interactive "magic floor" which changes when you jump, hop, dance or skip over it.
Coasts at Risk
Just after the underwater tunnel, learn about coastal pollution and marine menaces in our temporary Coasts at Risk display.
Octopus have 3 hearts.
