New Zealand Seashore

DSC_4821 Reef octopus, or wheke (Macroctopus maorum) detail of octopus beak. The beak is the only hard part of an octopus body. Located on the lower side of the body, the beak is made of the same material, keratin, that a bird’s beak and our fingernails are made of. Octopus use their beak to crush crabs and molluscs that they feed on. Challis Point, Otago Harbour *

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DSC_4821 Reef octopus, or wheke (Macroctopus maorum) detail of octopus beak. The beak is the only hard part of an octopus body. Located on the lower side of the body, the beak is made of the same material, keratin, that a bird’s beak and our fingernails are made of. Octopus use their beak to crush crabs and molluscs that they feed on. Challis Point, Otago Harbour *

DSC 4821 Reef octopus wheke Macroctopus maorum beak Challis Point Otago Harbour