An octopus? We’re aware of the amazing art of mimicry cuttlefish have, blending into their backgrounds, but their close relative the octopus may go one better again, by pretending to be a fish! The Atlantic longarm octopus, a caribean species, has been filmed mimicing flounder and other bottom-dwelling flat-fish. It is not clear why they do this, but video is available on the National Geographic website. The story is also picked up byt the BBC World Service’s Science in Action. Links for more information:

National Geographic: Atlantic Octopus Mimics Flounders—A First

Science In Action: 12/03/2010 (Ivory trade…)

Thanks to Michelle Cooper of Lancaster Maritime Museum for a very beautifully illustrated talk on the river Lune through Lancaster (Wednesday 11th March 2010). Lots of views of activity on the river over the last 400 years, which got everyone in the audience judging how things have changed. The images used to illustrate the talk were from the Lancaster City Council collection. These will be on display at the Maritime Museum until the 11th April 2010. For more information:

Tales from the riverbank

The competition is part of the celebration of the silver anniversary of the Lancaster Maritime Museum. Photographs on the COAST theme – from shipwrecks to sandy beaches – are invited. The best entries will be displayed in the Exhibition Gallery.

For further details, including PRIZES, please see the entry form below:

Coast photo competition entry form. (300kB PDF)