KELP
FOREST
FEEDING
11:30 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
SEA OTTER
FEEDING
10:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
MONTEREY BAY
HABITATS
The Ocean’s Edge
1st Floor
STORE
PENGUINS
AVIARY
OCTOPUS
TOUCH
POOLS
SPLASH
ZONE
TICKETING
& RE-ENTRY
KELP
FOREST
TOUCH
POOLS
PLAY
AREA
MAIN
ENTRANCE / EXIT
& TOURS
M
T
+
INFORMATION
& LOST KIDS
GIFT &
BOOKSTORE
i
GREAT
TIDE POOL
AMPHITHEATER
3RD FLOOR
KELP FOREST
CANNERY ROW
AUDITORIUM
ESCALATOR
SEA
OTTERS
JELLIESS
SPECIAL EXHIBITIO N
DISCOVERY
STORE
RESTAURANT
& CAFE
BRIDGE TO
SPECIAL EXHIBITION
LAB
CLASSROOMS
Pacific Ocean
ME
E
NC
RA
NT
RE
MB
E
Splash Zone
2nd Floor
EXIT
STAIRS DOWN
TO SPECIAL
EXH IBITION
THE
OPEN SEA
PUFFINS
VANISHING
WILDLIFE
OCEAN TR
Special Exhibition
1st Floor
PLAY
AREA
The Open Sea
2nd Floor
Map
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
Cephalopods:
Fact and Fiction
NAME:
Ocean Explorers
Observation Guide
©2015, Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. All rights reserved.
Cephalopods Review
Conservation Connections
What did you learn?
How can you help protect
cephalopods?
• Cephalopods are a “class” or group of animals within
the phylum Mollusca; including octopus, squid,
cuttlefish and nautilus. They have arms or tentacles,
and are typically fast moving predators.
• These animals have incredible adaptations for
camouflage and hunting.
• There are many myths and stories about cephalopods.
• Some cephalopods, like octopus, have a short lifespan.
To reduce the number taken from the wild, the staff at
the Monterey Bay Aquarium have found creative ways
to raise and care for these amazing animals.
• There are many other animals in the phylum Mollusca
(cephalopod relatives) including snails, clams, mussels,
chitons and nudibranchs.
• Human impacts including
pollution, overfishing and
climate change are affecting the
oceans and the animals who live
there. How can you help?
• Use the Monterey Bay
Aquarium’s Seafood Watch
pocket guide or app to make
informed seafood choices.
To learn more, visit:
www.seafoodwatch.org
• Continue learning about cephalopods and their relatives.
Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s website:
www.montereybayaquarium.org
• Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s
website and discover what animals scientists are
finding in the deep sea:
www.MBARI.org
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Ocean’s Edge and Splash Zone
Cephalopods are part of a diverse
phylum called Mollusca. Can you find
these cephalopod relatives?
Ocean’s Edge
Splash Zone
GUMBOOT CHITON
NUDIBRANCH
ABALONE
GIANT CLAM
MUSSELS
TURBAN SNAIL
Based on your observations, list two characteristics
that most Molluscs have in common.
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Tentacles
Octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus
are all cephalopods. What adaptations
do they all share?
Use the Meet the Family interactive screen in the Tentacles
exhibit to learn about cephalopod adaptations. Which
adaptations do all four of these animals have in common?
Look closely at the nautilus in
the exhibit. Describe how they
are different than the other
cephalopods; the octopus,
cuttlefish and squid.
BONUS: Cephalopods reproduce by laying eggs. At
the Monterey Bay Aquarium, husbandry staff raise
and care for baby cephalopods. Observe the egg lab.
Which animals do you see?
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Tentacles
Cephalopods are masters of camouflage.
They have specialized cells called
chromatophores they use to change
the color and texture of their skin.
You too can change color like a cephalopod! Have a seat
at the interactive exhibit (just past the nautiluses) and
give it a try.
Your Favorite Cephalopod
Examples of amazing cephalopod
inspired art can be seen in the
Tentacles gallery. Explore the artwork,
then choose your favorite live
cephalopod in the exhibit and draw
a scientific illustration of it below:
How are the chromatophores controlled? (Hint: watch the
video on the screen to the right of the interactive wall where
you took your picture.)
Why is it important for these animals to change color?
Are there any cephalopods on exhibit that do not
camouflage with their habitat? What would be the
advantage or disadvantage
of standing out?
Label the body parts unique to cephalopods on
your illustration.
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