How can certain camouflaging octopi and squid emulate their surroundings as close as they do?

Question

I tried to look around this sub for a similar question and cannot see one, but I’m really curious how it works.

In: Biology

Answer 1

Cant ELI5 it as im not ocean expert, but my best guess is simply eye sight. I remember reading that octopi/similar can see in a few more wavelengths and ways than we can, so its entirely possible they “see” things that we cant yet that help them form their camouflage correctly. I’d also add that genetic and evolutionary memory is entirely possible, where as the body retains what patterns worked with what, and what didnt. Kind of similar the way they can open complex items like jars etc, once its learnt, the cephalopod can re-use that “memory bank” information to recreate it anytime it needs to.