The Pacific Northwest tree octopus (Octopus paxarbolis) is not real. It is an internet hoax created to highlight critical thinking and evaluating digital information. This fictional cephalopod shows how easily misinformation spreads online.
The Fictional World of the Tree Octopus
The fabricated narrative describes the Pacific Northwest tree octopus as an amphibious cephalopod, supposedly inhabiting Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula rainforests. It is depicted as 30-33 cm from arm-tip to mantle-tip. Unlike most octopuses, it is said to spend only its early life and mating season in water, adapting to an arboreal existence through specialized skin that prevents desiccation.
These octopuses are imagined with webbed tentacles for navigating branches and large eyes for hunting. Their skin supposedly changes color, displaying emotions like red for anger and white for fear, typically mottled brown for camouflage. The fictional diet includes insects, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. Primary predators are Sasquatch, bald eagles, and cats. The hoax claims this species is endangered due to habitat loss and overexploitation.
The Origin of the Tree Octopus Hoax
The Pacific Northwest tree octopus concept originated in 1998 from “Zapatopi.net,” a satirical website by humor writer Lyle Zapato. This hoax aimed to educate internet users, especially students, on evaluating online source credibility. Zapato’s website used realistic-looking, fabricated details, images, and “scientific” language to appear authentic.
The site mimicked real conservation campaigns, including calls to action and references to an endangered species list. This served as a practical tool in media literacy education, prompting individuals to question online information. Studies show many students, even with media literacy training, struggle to identify the website as a hoax, highlighting its effectiveness in testing critical evaluation skills.
Lessons from the Tree Octopus
The Pacific Northwest tree octopus serves as a memorable example of how easily misinformation circulates online. This hoax underscores the importance of critical evaluation of digital content, a skill known as media literacy. Readers can apply several tips to discern factual information from falsehoods online.
Checking multiple sources is a fundamental step, as credible information is usually corroborated across reputable platforms. Verifying facts, looking for verifiable data, and being skeptical of sensational claims are important practices. Furthermore, examining the website’s mission, researching the author’s credibility, and performing reverse image searches for suspicious visuals can help identify unreliable content.