Flip the Flapjack Octopus

Hello, everyone! I’m Flip, the flapjack octopus. Unlike you, I don’t have two arms—I have eight! Pretty cool, right? These arms help me move through the water so I can go place to place or look for food. I can also make myself look like a flapjack, which is another word for pancake. Since I live in the ocean, I like to eat seafood, and some of my favorites are shrimp, lobster, and small fish.

Fun fact: did you know Flapjack Octopi are yellow, orange, or red? We also have fins on the top of our heads. They look like ears and help us swim. Another fun fact: we’re pretty small. The largest we can grow is almost eight inches, which is almost the length of a medium-sized banana. Compared to other ocean creatures, that’s tiny!

The ocean can feel lonely at times, but since I learned that God is always with me, I know I am never alone. Did you know God is always with you, too? Even if you were in outer space or at the bottom of the ocean, like I am, he’s there with you. No place is too far away for God. But that’s not all God can do. Did you know He makes thunderstorms and wind? He tells the sun when to shine the brightest and when to hide behind the clouds. He also tells the flowers when to bloom in spring and summer and the leaves when to change color and fall from their branches. The coolest thing is, none of this is hard for God. In fact, nothing is too difficult for Him. How amazing is that?

Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Opisthoteuthidae
Genus: Opisthoteuthis
Species: californiana
Lifespan: 1.4–2.6 years