Opining Octopods

What animal has 8 arms, 9 brains, 3 hearts, and copper-based blood instead of iron-based blood like we humans have?  No, it's not an alien from outer space.  Here's a hint:  it has 240 suction cups on each arm.  Need another hint?  It squirts ink to discourage predators.  If you guessed octopus, then you would be right.  It does sort of look like an alien though, doesn't it?

Source:  Wikipedia

There are over 250 species of octopuses.  (Or should I say octopi?  Octopuses is correct, but sounds weird.  But then octopi sounds weird too.  I think octopus should be one of those words that's both singular and plural like 'deer'.  Whatever - let's get on with the post!)  Octopuses occupy nearly every area of the ocean from coral reefs to the ocean floor.

Now about those 9 brains and 3 hearts.  It has a regular brain, but also has a brain or neural control for each one of its arms - the most sensitive part of its body.  It uses its arms for both tasting and feeling.  The octopus also has two gills and two of the hearts pump blood through each gill.  The third heart pumps blood to the rest of its body.

Octopuses eat crab, lobster, and fish, even some species of sharks.  They are also known to eat smaller octopuses.  Octopuses use poison to paralyze their prey.  Some species are among the most poisonous creatures in the sea, but there is only one group that is dangerous to humans - the blue ringed octopuses.

Source:  Wikipedia

Octopuses are capable of advanced reasoning and observational learning.  Experiments show they are also aware of their own bodies.  In one experiment octopuses were put into a clear plastic box with two holes in it - one too small for it to escape from and a maze of tubes which eventually led out of the box.  The octopuses tested the hole that was too small and realized they couldn't escape that way.  It then chose the maze and eventually got out.  When put in the box a second time, it didn't even test the smaller hole, but went straight to the maze.  In a second experiment, the octopuses were put in a box with a two-inch hole.  It took a bit of time, but they eventually were able to escape.  When put in the box a second time with a smaller hole, they tested the hole with one arm, realized it was too small and didn't try further.

Starry Octopus   Source: Scuba Equipment USA

Octopuses are masters of camouflage.  Their first line of defense against predators is to hide either by physically hiding in a shell or crevice or by hiding in plain sight and blending in with their surroundings.  An octopus has the ability to change the color of its skin to any color, pattern, and even change the texture of its skin to blend in with the sandy ocean floor, for example.  This also brings us to the matter of their intelligence.  In order to blend in with its surroundings it has to be AWARE of its surroundings and be able to duplicate what it sees.  Check out this video.

The mimic octopus is king when it comes to disguise.  It can flatten itself like a flounder, imitate a sea snake or a scorpion fish.  For a video, click here.  For more info about octopuses in general, click here.