A marine biologist has captured footage of a 'dreaming' octopus rapidly changing color.

This behavior is atypical for animals with the ability to change their coloring, making it all that more fascinating.

The video is footage from a PBS documentary set to premiere October 2 at 8 p.m. central time.

Mesmerizing footage of Heidi, a 'dreaming' octopus that changes color and patterning as she slumbers, has been released—it's especially exciting because this is an uncommon occurrence in the animal kingdom.

David Scheel, professor of marine biology at Alaska Pacific University, can be heard in a voiceover as he explains that this might be the first time a snoozing octopus has been filmed changing color in such quick succession.

"I witnessed something I've never seen recorded before," says Scheel, who says that due to what we already know about octopuses and their penchant for changing colors and patterns especially for protection or hunting, the one in the video is likely dreaming of catching her next meal.

"You could almost just narrate the body changes. And narrate the dream," Scheel can be heard saying as footage of Heidi shows a magnificent and rapid display of color.

The creature is seen in a washed out white coloring as Scheel notes that her coloring begins to change likely because she's dreaming of catching a crab.

"So here she's asleep, she sees a crab, and her color starts to change a little bit."

Heidi goes from a ghostly white to a deep, dark violet before transitioning into a full-blown camouflage pattern.

"This is a camouflage, like she's just subdued a crab and now she's going to sit there and eat it and she doesn't want anyone to notice her," says Scheel.

According to Scheel, it's rare to see the mantle change color so abruptly and that the footage is especially interesting because animals with the ability to camouflage usually don't change their colors like this while they sleep.

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