Why do octopuses squirt ink?

1. 1

   Wobble says

   An octopus is a brilliant hider. It can change colour to match the rocks around it. But if a hungry fish spots it anyway, whoosh! It squirts out a cloud of black ink. The fish can't see through the cloud, and the octopus has time to swim away.

   For ages 4–7
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   Checked against Common octopus (National Geographic)

2. 2

   Why can't the fish just sniff it out?

   Octopus ink has something extra mixed into it. When a hungry fish swims into the cloud, that something dulls its sense of smell. Now the fish can't see the octopus, and it can't sniff it out either. So the octopus is much harder to follow.

   For ages 6–9
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   Checked against Common octopus (National Geographic)

In Lil' Phil, reaching the bottom of this wonder earns a sticker for Wobble's collection.

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