ten wild facts about octopuses they have three hearts big brains and blue blood

 Ten Wild Facts About Octopuses: They Have Three Hearts, Big Brains, and Blue Blood

The octopus is one of the most mysterious and fascinating creatures of the ocean. Belonging to the class Cephalopoda, these marine animals possess extraordinary physical and cognitive abilities that continue to astonish marine biologists and zoologists. From their three hearts to their ability to change color instantly, octopuses are truly unique in the animal kingdom. In this blog, we will explore ten wild facts about octopuses that make them one of nature’s most remarkable creatures.

1. Octopuses Have Three Hearts

One of the most astonishing facts about octopuses is that they have three hearts. Two of these hearts pump blood to the gills, while the third circulates oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Interestingly, when an octopus swims, the heart that supplies the body with blood actually stops beating, which is why octopuses prefer crawling over swimming—it conserves energy.

2. Their Blood is Blue

Unlike humans, who have red blood due to iron-rich hemoglobin, octopuses have blue blood. This is because their blood contains a copper-based molecule called hemocyanin, which is more efficient in oxygen transport in cold and low-oxygen environments. This adaptation allows octopuses to thrive in deep-sea habitats where oxygen levels are often low.

3. Octopuses Have Large and Complex Brains

Octopuses are among the most intelligent invertebrates. Their brains are large in proportion to their body size, and they have an intricate nervous system. They can solve puzzles, use tools, and exhibit problem-solving skills that rival some vertebrates. Their cognitive abilities make them fascinating subjects for scientific research in animal behavior and intelligence.

4. They Can Change Color Instantly

One of the most famous abilities of octopuses is their capacity to change color almost instantly. This is possible due to specialized skin cells called chromatophores, which contain different pigments. By expanding or contracting these cells, octopuses can blend into their surroundings, communicate with other octopuses, or even intimidate predators.

5. Octopuses Can Regrow Lost Limbs

Much like some lizards can regrow their tails, octopuses can regenerate their arms. If an octopus loses an arm due to an attack or self-defense mechanism, it can grow a new one over time. This regeneration process ensures that octopuses maintain their mobility and hunting efficiency, making them highly adaptable predators.

6. They Have a Unique Way of Moving

Octopuses do not have bones, making them extremely flexible. They can squeeze through tiny openings, allowing them to escape from tight spots or enter narrow crevices in search of food. They move using a form of jet propulsion, expelling water from a siphon to push themselves forward. Despite being capable swimmers, they prefer crawling along the ocean floor using their arms.

7. Octopuses Have Short Lifespans

Despite their incredible abilities, octopuses have relatively short lifespans. Most species live only one to two years, while some deep-sea species may survive slightly longer. After mating, the female octopus lays eggs and dedicates herself entirely to protecting them. She stops eating and eventually dies after the eggs hatch. This reproductive strategy ensures the survival of the next generation but results in a limited lifespan.

8. They Can Taste With Their Arms

Octopuses do not rely solely on their mouths to detect flavors; they can also taste using their arms. Their suckers contain thousands of specialized cells that can sense chemicals in the water, helping them identify food sources. This unique ability allows them to explore their environment efficiently and detect prey hidden in the sand or crevices.

9. They Use Tools

Octopuses have been observed using tools, a behavior once thought to be exclusive to primates and birds. Some octopuses collect coconut shells or empty shells to use as shelters. This ability to manipulate objects for practical purposes is a clear sign of advanced intelligence and problem-solving skills.

10. They Can Mimic Other Animals

Some octopus species, such as the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus), take camouflage to the next level by imitating other marine creatures. They can change their body shape, color, and movement patterns to resemble poisonous fish, sea snakes, and even jellyfish. This incredible ability helps them evade predators by appearing as a more dangerous or unappetizing species.

Conclusion

Octopuses are extraordinary creatures that continue to amaze scientists and ocean enthusiasts alike. Their unique combination of intelligence, adaptability, and survival skills sets them apart in the animal kingdom. From their three hearts and blue blood to their ability to regrow limbs and use tools, octopuses are a testament to the wonders of marine evolution. As we continue to explore the mysteries of the deep sea, octopuses will undoubtedly remain one of the most intriguing subjects of study in zoology.

Octopus

1. Octopuses have been around for a long time.

A fossil of the earliest known octopus relative, dating to 330 million years ago © Christopher Whalen via Yale Universit

2. Octopuses have three hearts.

3. The plural of octopus is octopuses.

The word “octopus” comes from the Greek oktopus, meaning “eight foot,” and its plural form has long sparked debate. The first attempt at making the word plural was “octopi,” using a common pattern in Latin words, such as how “alumnus” becomes “alumni” when pluralized. Others have argued that, as a word that stems from Greek, “octopus” as a plural should incorporate a Greek word ending, becoming “octopodes.” But with the English adoption of the word, a classic English “-es” has become the generally accepted pluralization of octopus. Sorry, “octopi” and “octopodes.”

4. Octopuses aren’t as dumb as Aristotle thought they were.

In History of Animals, written around 350 B.C.E., the Greek philosopher claimed, “The octopus is a stupid creature, for it will approach a man’s hand if it be lowered in the water; but it is neat and thrifty in its habits: that is, it lays up stores in its nest, and, after eating up all that is eatable, it ejects the shells and sheaths of crabs and shellfish, and the skeletons of little fishes.” After describing a few more quirks of octopus life—it releases ink for self-defense, it’s slimy, it can crawl on land—he signs off with a flippant burn on the octopus’ phylum: “So much for the mollusca.”

Aristotle’s dismissal has since been proved wrong. Octopuses have big brains for their size, and they’re able to figure things out, like how to open a clamshell that’s been wired shut. They can navigate mazes, solve problems, remember solutions and take things apart for fun. Octopuses even have distinct personalities, as explored in the Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher. Finally, the cephalopods play—in one instance, by conducting a pseudo-game of catch with a floating bottle.

5. Octopus’ arms have a mind of their own.

Two-thirds of an octopus’ neurons reside in its arms, not its head. As a result, some of the arms can figure out how to crack open a shellfish while the rest of the animal is busy doing something else, like checking out a cave for more edible goodies. Octopus tentacles can even react after they’ve been completely severed from a dead animal. In one experiment, amputated tentacles jerked and curled up when researchers pinched them.

6. Octopus ink doesn’t just hide the animal.

The ink also physically harms enemies. It contains a compound called tyrosinase, which, in humans, helps to control the production of the natural pigment melanin. But when sprayed in a predator’s eyes, tyrosinase causes irritation. It also garbles creatures’ senses of smell and taste.

9. After mating, it’s game over for octopuses.

Mating and parenthood are brief affairs for octopuses, which die shortly after. The species practices external fertilization. A male inserts his spermatophores directly into the female’s mantle cavity, using his hectocotylus, a special, longer arm. Afterward, the male’s “sex arm” falls off, and the animal dies. As for the females, they can lay up to 400,000 eggs, which they obsessively guard and tend to. To prioritize their motherly duties, females stop eating. By the time their eggs hatch, female octopuses are either dying or dead. Their optic glands rapidly produce self-destructive chemicals, causing a rapid change in cholesterol metabolism and ultimately killing them. Some captive octopus mothers have been known to intentionally speed up their own deaths by mutilating themselves.

10. Most of the octopus we eat comes from North and West Africa.

Octopus meat has been a popular food item in East Asia, Spain, Greece and other countries for centuries, and recently, its demand extended to the United States and beyond.

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