THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OCTOPUS - BIOLOGY - 2024

The octopuses are marine animals, invertebrates and carnivores throughout your entire body with eight long arms, full of suckers, like suckers. Octopuses, scientifically and formally, are called as octopod animals.

These marine animals can be found in all the oceans of the world and they lack an external shell that protects their body from external agents.

Octopus tetricus

The octopus is an animal that can be 15 centimeters in size or up to 6 meters long. Likewise, its weight can vary, but the maximum is located at 70 kilograms.

The octopus does not represent any kind of danger to human beings; in fact, its habitat is at the bottom of the sea. However, there is a species called Hapalochlaena, better known as the blue-ringed octopus, which is capable of causing the death of a person in a short time.

On the other hand, there are different dishes that can be prepared with this animal, becoming quite popular in recent years, being a sought after and gastronomically coveted species.

There are different characteristics that differentiate this animal from other mollusks and that are interesting to know.

Outstanding characteristics of octopuses

1- Blue blood

Unlike humans and other animals, octopuses possess blue blood. This is due to the fact that they do not have hemoglobin (a molecule in charge of transporting oxygen and which confers the red color); on the contrary, they have hemocyanin and therefore their appearance looks blue.

2- Particular anatomy

These animals, in addition to having eight tentacles, have an interesting structure throughout their body.

They have an elongated head that joins their extremities, the head includes the eyes, this being one of the most developed senses in octopods.

In fact, these animals are completely deaf, but they can differentiate colors and different images.

In addition, the brain is located in its head: in charge of facilitating coordination and allowing the mobility of its eight arms.

Also, the octopus has three hearts, located in the upper part of its body. Each of these organs has a specific and important function; Two of them are in charge of carrying oxygen-depleted blood to the bronchi (the place where gas exchange occurs).

For its part, the other heart carries oxygenated blood to the rest of the octopus's body, contributing to its proper functioning and somewhat resembling the functions performed by the human heart.

3- Chameleons in the water

Another of the most interesting characteristics of octopuses is that they can easily camouflage themselves and thus go unnoticed when they feel threatened. It is one of the animals that does an excellent job in terms of camouflage.

Octopods not only have the ability to adopt a color similar to that of their environment, but they can take various elements and apply them to their own body, including textures, and can even imitate other animals.

4- Thousands of eggs

This species has the ability to reproduce by laying up to a thousand eggs at a time, causing various negative aspects, such as, for example, the female loses too much energy carrying out and incubating her eggs.

However, on the positive side, this allows the species to survive different changes in its habitat, in addition to the threat that it currently lives, wanting to be hunted by men for food.

5- Independent tentacles

Although all the tentacles are attached to its small brain and have the ability to move in tune, each of its limbs can also perform a different movement.

This is because each of its arms has different neurons that allow it to move according to its convenience.

6- Mating and reproduction

It is essential to mention that octopuses are animals that only reproduce once in their life, being classified as semélparos.

When the mating season begins, a game also begins between the male octopus and the female octopus. The most common is to see them changing color and making different movements with their body.

It is the third tentacle on the right side of the male that reacts as a reproductive organ and enters the cloaca of the female, depositing the eggs that the latter will carry.

During the month of its development and while waiting for the small octopuses to be born, the mother worries that other predators do not stalk and occupies herself in such a way that she forgets to feed. This is why when the octopuses are born, the mother dies.

7- Intelligence

Various scientific studies have shown that octopuses are animals that have impressive intelligence.

Octopuses are the invertebrates with the highest intelligence, thanks to the neurons distributed throughout their tentacles they have the ability to solve problems.

In addition, they have a highly developed nervous system that allows them to memorize different patterns (especially poisonous animals), useful when camouflaging themselves.

In the same way, all their knowledge of survival is acquired by themselves, because their mother dies once they are born.

8- Food

Octopods are carnivorous animals and more voracious than you can imagine. They are usually wandering around, looking to devour mussels, clams, or crabs.

Thanks to the radula, a structure present in all mollusks, attached to their tentacles, they are capable of opening any shell.

9- Strong muscles

Despite not having a backbone or bones, they have a fairly strong and powerful structure.

Throughout their life they develop many muscles that give them the ability to fight with other marine animals. This leads them to survive, despite having a kind of disadvantage.

10- shyness

Octopuses are quite shy animals that constantly prefer to be hidden in a cave or any marine structure that is capable of protecting them, they camouflage themselves during the day and go hunting at night. All this with the purpose of going unnoticed and avoiding exposure to danger.

References

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