Octopus

Richard Schweid

Octopus

Richard Schweid

Distributed for Reaktion Books

224 pages | 60 color plates, 40 halftones | 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 | © 2014
Animal
Paper $19.95 ISBN: 9781780231778 Published December 2013 For sale in North and South America only
E-book $19.95 ISBN: 9781780232157 Published October 2013
 Our relationship to the octopus dates back to prehistory, when the eight-armed animal was depicted on vases and found in stone carvings from ancient Greece. Now we appreciate them for their abilities as escape artists, with sophisticated camouflage systems and ink jets—as well as their roles in tasty dishes from many cuisines. Octopuses are also among the most intelligent invertebrates in the world, with mental capacity comparable to that of a dog. In this heavily illustrated book, Richard Schweid details this animal’s remarkable natural history and its multifaceted relationship with humans.
 
Schweid describes the octopus’s intelligence, defense mechanisms, and short lifespan. He shows how some people have considered octopuses as nothing more than a meal and examines their role in the modern global fish and seafood industry. Other cultures, he reveals, see them as erotic totems or symbols of the darkest evils, and he discusses the difficulties people face when trying to keep them as pets—they are able to use their problem-solving skills, mobility, and boneless body to escape seemingly secure tanks. A fascinating glimpse into the extraordinary world of these popular creatures, Octopus will immerse readers in its amazing undersea world.
Contents

1              Octopus Body

2              Octopus Brain

3              Octopus Mind  

4              Octopus Fishing, Farming and Marketing

5              Octopus Cuisine

6              Octopus Iconography

7              Octopus Keeping

Timeline

References

Select Bibliography

Associations and Websites

Acknowledgements

Photo Acknowledgements

Index

Review Quotes
Chapter 16
“Schweid delivers the abundance of information in Octopus in a clear and concise style, and his text is accompanied by dozens of color illustrations, including beautiful photographs of the animals and an array of images from art and folklore. The book is an enjoyable and compact guide to one of nature’s more peculiar creations.”
For more information, or to order this book, please visit https://www.press.uchicago.edu
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Biological Sciences: Natural History

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