The Great Octopus

They're Ancient Creatures

Cephalopods like the octopus have been around for over 300 million years. These days there are 300 different species, with habitats ranging from shallow waters to nearly 10,000 feet deep.

Sea Monsters

Octopus and other cephalopods are the basis for mythological monsters like the Kraken and the Akkorokamui. Hawaiian myths describe them as remnants of an alien race.

Curious and Smart

They want to explore and understand their environment, and they learn quickly by observing behavior of others. Researchers note distinct personalities along with complex problem solving abilities.

Arms Have a Mind of Their Own

Well, sort of. Two-thirds of their neurons are in their arms, which essentially means that each of the eight arms can 'think' and react independently.

Strong and Sensitive Types

Common octopuses can hold 35 lbs with just one sucker. These highly sensitive suction cups can move independently, including being able to pinch. They can also taste what they're touching.

They Wander Out of Water

Some species of octopus can crawl out of the water for short periods of time. Generally, it's to hop from tide pool to tide pool to hunt, but occasionally it's to escape a predator.

They Have Big Hearts

Actually, three of them. Two move blood through the gills, and 1 moves blood through the body for organs. The latter stops beating while swimming, which is why they'd rather crawl than swim.

Special Protections

Due to their nervous system and intelligence, octopuses are given legal protections in some countries. For example, researchers cannot perform surgery on them without anesthesia.

Mobile Homes

Some live in mobile homes, literally. They pick up shells, bottles, or other suitable items and carry them around for protection and shelter.

Blackout Escapes

The infamous defensive ink they use to hide an escape messes up a predator’s sight, smell, and taste. It's so powerful that an octopus can die in their own ink if they manage to get trapped in it.

Hiding in Plain Sight

In a flash, they can change their entire bodies to hide or mimic other creatures. Some species use mimicry to either attract prey or a pretend to be a scary predator, depending on the situation.

Venomous

All octopuses are venomous, but only one has venom strong enough to kill humans. The blue-ringed octopus - shown here – turns bright yellow with blue rings when provoked.

They Die Young

They have very short lives, from just 6 months to a few years depending on species. However, they can leave behind up to 200,000 young before moving on.

No Life After Kids

Seriously. Mating is pretty much the end for them. If the males survive mating, they die within months after. The female starves herself until her eggs hatch, then she dies as well.

Most Are Nocturnal

Sign up for a night dive and try to catch a glimpse of these fascinating animals. Keep a distance and just watch without interfering, and you might be in for an entertaining show.