5 Octopus Facts that Every Cephalopod Enthusiast Must Know

These top 5 octopus facts, which were compiled by marine ecologists, are essential knowledge for all cephalopod enthusiasts.

Because they are invertebrates, octopuses are among the coolest marine creatures. They lack a backbone, unlike people, lions, turtles, birds, and other animals.

Although it may sound strange, approximately 97% of all animals on Earth are invertebrates.

Cephalopods are a particular class of invertebrates that includes octopuses. Because cephalopods' arms encircle their heads, the name "cephalopod" translates as "head-foot." Squid, cuttlefish, and nautiloids are examples of other cephalopod species. Here are the top 5 octopus facts, listed by marine ecologists Erin Spencer and Yannis Papastamatiou from The Conversation,

that every cephalopod enthusiast must know. The top 5 octopus facts are listed below by marine ecologists Yannis Papastamatiou and Erin Spencer from The Conversation for that every cephalopod enthusiast and budding octopus fan.

1. Octopus Diet

Spencer and Papastamatiou study how marine animals interact with their surroundings and one another as marine ecologists. The two have mostly studied fish, from lionfish to sharks, but they must admit that octopuses continue to hold their attention.

According to the two, octopuses have different diets depending on their habitat and species. They feed on fish as well as gastropods like lobsters and crabs, bivalves like clams and mussels, and gastropods like snails and sea slugs.

Octopuses employ a variety of tactics and strategies to catch their prey. Some octopuses pull their prey in by encircling them with their arms rather than their tentacles. Some people drill into clam shells using their robust beaks. All octopuses are venomous, and they use their poison to overwhelm and kill their prey.

2. Octopus Habitat

There are about 300 different species of octopus, and they can be found in all oceans, including the icy waters off the coast of Antarctica. These cold-water species' blood contains a unique substance that aids in oxygen absorption, and also turns the blood of the octopus blue.

Octopuses can be found in a variety of depths, with some of them being found just several feet below the water's surface on warm tropical reefs. Others are practically in the dark and live deep underwater. The dumbo octopus is the species that dive the furthest, having been discovered 22,800 feet (more than 4 miles) below the surface, according to BBC News.

3. Octopus Intelligence

When it comes to intelligence among invertebrates, octopuses are at the top of the class. They have nine brains, one in the center of their bodies and one in each arm. Each arm can taste, touch, and carry out simple movements on its own, but when the central brain so directs, all the arms can cooperate.

Octopuses are capable of completing puzzles and mazes, especially when food is the prize, and occasionally they can even outwit humans. The housed octopus at the New Zealand National Aquarium, Inky, discovered how to sneak out of his tank and make his way to the ocean via a drainpipe.

Also Read: Octopus Mother Inflicts Self-Harm as Brood Starts to Hatch

4. Octopus Colors

Octopuses are masters at camouflaging themselves to fit in with their environment. They do it, for instance, by altering color. The brain sends a signal to special cells called chromatophores, instructing them to tighten the muscles to display more color or loosen them to display less. They exhibit these hues and others to camouflage themselves from predators, entice mates, draw in prey, and warn off enemies.

According to the Smithsonian, Some species can blend in with the vegetation and rocks by altering the texture of their skin, making it smoother or bumpier. When threatened by predators like sharks, some octopuses spray ink, giving them enough time to swim away safely.

Ingenious in particular is the mimic octopus. To mimic other marine animals, it makes specific arm movements. For instance, when it wants to appear fierce, it spreads out its two arms with black-and-white striped patterns to resemble a poisonous sea snake. Alternately, it will lay flat on the ocean floor with its arms next to its body to resemble a poisonous flatfish.

5. Octopus Threats

An octopus remains to be nonaggressive when confronted by humans, provided that people give them space like they would any other ocean animal.

Even though octopuses have strategies for avoiding predators, they still face threats from overfishing, climate change, chemical pollutants, and habitat loss, The Conversation reports.