by
Amanda Green
Almost
anyone could identify an octopus, but few people know how
special these eight-armed sea creatures truly are. For instance,
did you know that the only hard part of an octopus's body
is its parrot-like beak? There are 289 different species
of octopuses (you can also call more than one octopus "octopi"),
many of which prefer to call coral reefs and the ocean bottom
home.
Armed
Rubbery
The
eight arms of octopuses are strong, flexible, and rubbery,
like the rest of their bodies. Each arm is equipped with
two handy (get it, handy?) rows of suction cups. These suction
cups have special receptors that enable octopuses to taste
what they touch. But the arms aren't all about chowing down.
They also help octopuses crawl, swim, hunt, move rocks and
sand, and even imitate other sea animals.
Senses
and Defenses
Besides
having a great sense of touch, octopuses also have a keen
sense of sight. They spend most of the day hidden alone
in their lairs and hunt for food at night. The large, lidded
eyes of octopuses are colorblind, but easily focus in dim
underwater light. Octopuses grab crabs, crayfish, and clams
for dinner using their suction cup grip. Then they stun
their prey with nerve poison and use tiny, sharp teeth on
their tongues to bite into hard shells.
Great
senses of touch and vision make octopuses' lives much easier,
but sometimes they need special defenses to stay safe. That's
where the concealed ink sacs in the folds of their bodies
come in. When octopuses sense danger, they squirt out clouds
of ink that darken the water and allow them to hide.
In
addition to pulling this life-saving ink trick, octopuses
can also blend in with their surroundings by perfectly changing
their body colors and textures. Their skin pigments can
even form stripes and other patterns!
Octo-A+
Octopuses
are naturally smart. In fact, scientists say they are probably
the most intelligent invertebrates, or animals without a
backbone, around. Research shows that they're capable of
learning more, including how to navigate mazes, break out
of aquariums, and even play catch with bottles and toys.
In a school of underwater creatures, octopuses would be
head (and arms) of the class!
