ScienceAugust 21, 2026
blotch
BLOCH
Definition
A specific, contrasting color pattern or skin marking displayed by an octopus during defensive interactions.
Etymology
Originating in the late 16th century, the word likely comes from a combination of the Middle English 'blot' (a stain or spot) and 'botch' (a swollen lump or sore).
In the news
The article describes the 'half-blotch' display, a distinct pattern of skin coloration that an octopus shows when it encounters a territorial fish, signaling a defensive response.
Young reef octopuses do not slap every fish that gets close: a 2026 study found arm strikes concentrated in fast, defensive encounters with territorial fish, while interactions with nonterritorial followers lasted more than three times as long as the underwater fight
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com