Last night I had a fabulous evening with the Friends of the Elephant Seals, a remarkable collection of intelligent, informed, interested folks. And as often occurs, I learned at least as much information as I imparted, so now I can update my report on elephant seals as squid predators.

We usually see elephant seals hauled out on the beach for fighting, mating, giving birth and nursing. Both males and females fast during this entire period, losing about a third of their body weight. But when they go out to sea to hunt and build up reserves for next season's haul out, the males and females split up.

Despite my recent obsession with cetaceans, it's important to remember they're not the only cephalopod predators out there. Pretty much anything that can catch a squid will happily chow down on it, including other squid, fish, birds, and mammals.

Into the mammal category go cetaceans, yes, and humans, of course, but also the terrifying charismatic elephant seal:

So I've been reading a bunch about whales and dolphins eating squid. Tomorrow there will be an exciting post about whether sperm whales really do stun giant squid with sonic blasts, but for now, here is a tantalizing thought about the evolution of echolocation . . .

And thus passes one of the more charismatic cephalopods of our times . . .

The mollusc, named Paul, 'predicted' the outcome of all Germany's matches in South Africa, and Spain's win in the final, by picking a mussel out of a box displaying the victorious country's flag.

The Oberhausen Sea Life Centre said Paul the octopus appeared to have died of natural causes.

Let it be noted, however, that two-and-a-half years is a really good run for an octopus.