History Main / StealthyCephalopod

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDeep2015'': In the episode "The Abyss Stares Back", the deep-sea diving heroes start seeing strange doppelgängers of themselves down in the impossibly deep ocean. They turn out to be vast groups of tiny squid, [[TheWormThatWalks forming together into shaped swarms]] and camouflaging themselves to resemble divers, submarines, or whatever.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDeep'': In the episode "The Abyss Stares Back", the deep-sea diving heroes start seeing strange doppelgängers of themselves down in the impossibly deep ocean. They turn out to be vast groups of tiny squid, [[TheWormThatWalks forming together into shaped swarms]] and camouflaging themselves to resemble divers, submarines, or whatever.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Literature/TheMagicSchoolBus Octopus in the neighborhood?]][[note]]Actually a ''septapus''[[/note]]]]

-->-- '''Marina''', ''VideoGame/Splatoon2''

* In ''WesternAnimation/FindingDory'', Hank the "septopus" (an octopus with one tentacle missing; it's unclear if this is a birth defect or his tentacle simply hasn't grown back yet) is good at sneaking around, thanks to his quiet nature and ability to change his skin colour.

* [[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/world/asia/inky-octopus-new-zealand-aquarium.html Inky the Octopus]], who escaped from the National Aquarium of New Zealand by breaking out of his tank and slithering down a drainpipe leading to a nearby bay.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Literature/TheMagicSchoolBus Octopus in the neighborhood?]]]]

* A very dark example in ''Series/TheTwilightZone2019'' episode "8." Researchers in an underwater station discover a large, preternaturally intelligent octopus has snuck aboard after possibly killing one of their colleagues. They attempt to study it only for it to escape and wreak havoc, sneaking through the pipes to make another kill and even hacking into the station's computer; [[spoiler:By the end, the researchers realize the octopus is part of a newly-evolving species, preparing to adapt to dry land and replace humanity as the dominant lifeform.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheDeep'' episode "The Abyss Stares Back," the deep-sea diving heroes start seeing strange doppelgängers of themselves down in the impossibly deep ocean. They turn out to be vast groups of tiny squid, forming together into shaped swarms and camouflaging themselves to resemble divers, submarines, or whatever.

* * ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Multiple editions give octopuses good stealth (5[[superscript:th]] Edition in particular gives them the ability to make stealth checks with advantage when underwater), reflecting their camouflage abilities. They can also usually obscure the area around themselves with ink and jet through the water at great speed, [[KnowWhenToFoldEm typically to escape a losing fight]].

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 5[[superscript:th]] Edition gives octopuses the ability to make stealth checks with advantage when underwater, reflecting their camouflage abilities, as well as the ability to obscure the area around themselves with ink and double their movement speed in a single turn.

* Both the Inklings and Octolings from the ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' series have the ability to hide in their ink to keep hidden from enemies. The Ninja Squid skill that can be on clothing will leave no trail when the wearer is hidden.

* Both the Inklings and Octolings from the ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' series have the ability to hide in their ink to keep hidden from enemies. The Ninja Squid skill that can be on clothing takes this UpToEleven as no trail will show when the wearer is hidden.

The GiantSquid usually ''won't'' act stealthy, though, mainly because most fictional portrayals are all [[CombatTentacles brawn]] and no brains. However, real giant squid actually do lean towards stealth. They may not have camouflage, but they are rather shy and rarely leave the deep sea where it's dark - most of the giant squids observed alive in the wild are either juvenile or elderly squid, both of which are thought to venture to shallower water more often than mature adults.

* Most octopi and cuttlefish have the ability to quickly change the color/texture of their skin to blend in with almost any natural surface. However, they seem to have trouble with manmade surfaces, as you can see with [[https://youtu.be/pgDE2DOICuc this cuttlefish]] struggling to mimic a checkerboard pattern.

* ''Videogame/MegaManZero:'' The fourth game has one of the bosses, Tech Kraken, a squid-based Reploid who used to be a member of Hidden Phantom's espionage unit. He has a tricky fighting style, with one of his moves having him using his squid ink to obscure himself so he can strike from the dark using his sharpened tentacles.

** Decoy Octopus from ''Videogame/MetalGearSolid'' is a MasterOfDisguise and FOXHOUND unit's deception and impersonation specialist. His disguises are so thorough that he even goes so far as to inject blood samples from those he impersonates into his own body.

* [[https://youtu.be/wEqOvYejRyI Sea Fortress 2]] is a GagDub of a nature documentary where the animals are given the voices of characters from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. In this video, the mimic octopus, which is known to impersonate other animals for protection, is given the voice of [=TF2's=] Spy, a MasterOfDisguise who relies on stealth, just like the octopus itself.

[[folder:Advertising]]
* The Aquarium at the Boardwalk in Branson, Missouri has an octopus mascot named Aquarius. As an EasterEgg, models of Aquarius are hidden in many rooms, if not every room, of the aquarium. Most of these models show Aquarius matching the color of the walls or scenery to demonstrate the camouflage abilities of a real octopus.
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