Octocam!
Over at the Hatfield Marine Center at Oregon State University lives Deriq, a giant Pacific octopus. Up till now to see Deriq you would have to visit the center, but now you can see him on his very own webcam!
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/visitor/octocam
Deriq spends a lot of his time exploring the tank; earlier today I saw him rummaging through the rocks. He got himself zapped by one of the anemones. I also saw one of the starfish meander by. If you don't see Deriq or any of his tankmates, keep checking back.
Of particular interest is how the folks at the HMC had to secure the webcam and its enclosure so Deriq wouldn't take them apart:
Octopuses are curious, smart--and strong. They're able to take apart even the smallest mechanical component, and seem to do so simply to entertain themselves. It was a challenge to come up with a housing that would protect the camera from the octopus--and vice-versa. Most commonly available hardware is made of metals that break down in seawater and could poison the octopus and his invertebrate tankmates.
So our OctoCam team had to get creative. They designed a special camera housing from a stainless steel electrical box. To prevent zinc contamination from the steel, the box was coated with a special marine-grade powder coating. The bolts that hold the box together are made of non-toxic nylon, with all the edges filed off so the octopus can't unscrew them. The box is also strong enough to withstand the crushing strength of the octopus tentacles in case he decides to give it a good squeeze.
More at the OctoFAQ.
Props to kightp for making this happen!
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/visitor/octocam
Deriq spends a lot of his time exploring the tank; earlier today I saw him rummaging through the rocks. He got himself zapped by one of the anemones. I also saw one of the starfish meander by. If you don't see Deriq or any of his tankmates, keep checking back.
Of particular interest is how the folks at the HMC had to secure the webcam and its enclosure so Deriq wouldn't take them apart:
Octopuses are curious, smart--and strong. They're able to take apart even the smallest mechanical component, and seem to do so simply to entertain themselves. It was a challenge to come up with a housing that would protect the camera from the octopus--and vice-versa. Most commonly available hardware is made of metals that break down in seawater and could poison the octopus and his invertebrate tankmates.
So our OctoCam team had to get creative. They designed a special camera housing from a stainless steel electrical box. To prevent zinc contamination from the steel, the box was coated with a special marine-grade powder coating. The bolts that hold the box together are made of non-toxic nylon, with all the edges filed off so the octopus can't unscrew them. The box is also strong enough to withstand the crushing strength of the octopus tentacles in case he decides to give it a good squeeze.
More at the OctoFAQ.
Props to kightp for making this happen!