Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Least ConcernFast Facts
About
The common octopus is a marvel of the invertebrate world, a soft-bodied cephalopod of exceptional intelligence equipped with eight sucker-lined arms and a large, expressive eye. It is a master of disguise, able to transform its colour, pattern and even skin texture in an instant.
Boneless and extraordinarily flexible, it can squeeze its entire body through any gap large enough to admit its beak, the only hard part of its anatomy.
Behaviour
The common octopus is a resourceful hunter and problem-solver, using its arms to prise open shells and even unscrew jar lids in captivity. Much of its nervous system lies within its arms, which can act with a degree of independence.
When threatened it can jet away rapidly, releasing a cloud of dark ink to confuse pursuers and mask its escape.
Did you know?
- An octopus can squeeze its whole body through a hole no bigger than its beak
- Two-thirds of its neurons lie in its arms rather than its brain
- It can change colour and texture in an instant to vanish against its surroundings
- Octopuses have three hearts and blue, copper-based blood
Distribution
Temperate and tropical coastal waters worldwide
