Octopus / Gåmson
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Octopus / Gåmson
Octopus cyanea
Image from Coral reefs CD
Octopuses or gåmson as they are called in Chamoru, are mollusks, a large group which includes clams, snails, and most other animals popularly known as "shells." Gåmson, along with squids (called ngosngos in Chamoru), cuttlefishes, and nautiluses belong to the cephalopod class. Cephalopods are among the most intelligent of marine animals. They have well-developed eyes, a mouth with a hard beak surrounded by tentacles that are armed with numerous sucking discs, and a funnel connected to a hollow sac that can be used to propel the animal with a jet of water. All but the nautiluses are able to squirt a blob of ink that helps them to escape from predators. All of the local cephalopods are edible.
Gåmson have eight arms and a distinct sac-like head that contains all the animal's organs. There are at least five kinds of gåmson in local waters, but only one is commonly seen or caught. It reaches a large size, at least 43 pounds (19.5 kg) and over 7 feet (2.1 m) long from the tips of its tentacles to the end of its head. However, individuals over five pounds (2.3 kg) are rare. Two other smaller species, the white spotted octopus (Octopus macropus) and webfoot octopus (Octopus membranaceus) come out in the open primarily at night. At least two other very small species of gåmson have been photographed or collected in shallow reef waters. Gåmson feed mainly on crabs and shrimps that are paralyzed by a venom as they are bitten. The beak is then used to puncture holes in the shells and pick out the flesh. Gåmson also feed on various mollusks and fishes.
Ngosngos (squid) are closely related to gåmson but have 10 tentacles and an elongate body with fins at the opposite end. Two of the tentacles are retractible, longer than the rest, and have pads armed with hooks and suction cups at their tips. There are several local species, most with a body length of less than a foot. Most are found in the open sea but a few occur on shallow reefs. Cuttlefishes (also called ngosngos in Chamoru) resemble squids, but have a hard internal shell made of calcium and a fin that is continuous around the sides of the body. One species, the broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) reaches a body length of 18 inches(46 cm). Ngosngos are just as good to eat as gåmson and are occasionally speared.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
