Photo 5992263, (c) tangatawhenua, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by tangatawhenua

Attribution © tangatawhenua
some rights reserved
Uploaded by tangatawhenua tangatawhenua
Source iNaturalist NZ
Associated observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Typical Octopuses (Family Octopodidae)

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

January 2, 2017 04:17 PM NZDT

Description

Wheke Spotting 101 - Practical Assessment Part A

The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that the student can spot a wheke with guidence.

Arriving at the G2, @pjd1 sat on a rock about 1.5m away from me to put on fins while I scanned the water which was about 100mm deep.

Me: There is a wheke between you and me

Pjd1: Are you the wheke whisperer?
(Well what can I say - how can you do a pracitcal assessment without any wheke to spot? LOL)

A minute later:
Me: The wheke is show the camoflauge skills in the browns

Next minute:
Me: The wheke is sneaking across the grey pebbles playing "you can't see me"
(Sneaky wheke knew that with the wind creating distortion on the top of the water it would be hard to spot)

Once spotted the wheke decided to go and introduce itself and explore the fin (photo 2) seeing if it would make a good hidy hole (Photo 3). Deciding that wasn't a good idea (and I am not sure if that is because it would not fit or because of toe jams) it retreated (Photo 4) then paused by the leg for a scale shot (Photo 5) before going about it's other business.

Assessment Mark: A

Part B of the assessment is spotting a wheke without guidence - but that is another story which can be found here:)

Tags

G2
Sizes