AT FIRST glance, this image shows what appears to be an ordinary coral reef… until you spot the large, beady eye.
Hidden in plain sight is a gigantic octopus, having changed colour to blend into its surroundings with the most amazing accuracy.
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Can you spot the hidden octopus concealed in this image of a coral reef?Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
Renowned as one of the most intelligent creatures of the animal kingdom, the octopus has been likened to an alien form of life with its eight tentacles and huge eyes.
It can change colour and texture in the blink of an eye to either avoid predators or hunt prey.
The underwater equivalent of tropical rainforests, healthy reefs teem with life and provide a sheltered habitat and ideal disguise for the octopus, which pretended to be coral.
The incredible picture was taken on the iconic Great Barrier Reef and has been chosen as the Editor’s Pick in the BMC Ecology Image Competition 2017.
It was captured by Greek-born photographer Michelle Achlatis, a PhD student at the Coral Reef Ecosystems Lab at the University of Queensland.
Dominique Mazzi, editor of the journal’s Australia section, said: “The image seems to present a coral reef surprisingly lacking in animal life.
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Once you see it: Hidden in plain sight is a gigantic octopus, having changed colour to blend into its surroundings with the most amazing accuracy
“That is until you notice the large octopus hidden in plain sight. If you are having trouble finding it, look for the eye exactly in the middle of the picture.”
Another editor, Michel Baguette, added: “The picture is a reminder of how integrated the different species are within coral ecosystems; this octopus, so beautifully adapted to its environment, could clearly not survive outside this habitat.”
The other winning pictures include elephant shrew, Tibetan antelope and the ‘two towers of Antarctica’, which resemble a ‘scene out of Lord of the Rings’.
The overall winning image by Ana Carolina Lima, University of Aveiro, Portugal, is a photo of giant South American turtles.
The picture was taken in one of the most important areas of conservation for this species – the Cantao State Park, in Tocantins, Brazil.
It is located in one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world; the Cerrardo, the largest savannah in South America.
The winner was chosen from 127 entries. There were two overall runners up and winners from five categories.
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The overall winning image by Ana Carolina Lima, University of Aveiro, Portugal, is a photo of giant South American turtlesCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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One of the other images in the competitin shows early morning oyster catchers assembling on the roof of a disused boat shed on the Otago Peninsula, South Island, New ZealandCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Highly commended images include a photo of a Galapagos sea lion dozing in the sandCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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First runner-up was the ‘Two Towers’ by Christin Sawstrom depicting the tranquil and frozen East Antarctic sea ice landscapeCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Now in its fifth year, the BMC Ecology Image competition was created to give ecologists the chance to share their research and photographic skills, and celebrate the intersection of art and science.
Want to try another brainteaser? Well can YOU find the only white chip in this mind-boggling puzzle?
Or why not try this tricky summer brainteaser, which challenges you to spot the missing toy in a crowd of beach-loving kids.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education