-
-
Left-handed octopus
New study finds octopus have a preference for which of their 8 legs they use most, meaning they can be either left or right "handed."
Video at the link. New study finds octopus have a preference for which of their 8 legs they use most, meaning they can be either left or right "hand... more -
Octopuses have 'six arms' and 'two legs'
Octopuses' eight tentacles divide up into six "arms" and two "legs", a study published by a chain of commercial aquariums said on Thursday.
Octopuses are reckoned to be the world's most intelligent invertebrates and are able to use tools with their sucker-covered tentacles.
Helped by over 2,000 observations by visitors, teams of aquatic specialists carried out a study showing that the creatures seemed to favour their first three pairs of tentacles for grabbing and using objects, Sea Life aquariums said.
"One can assume that the front six tentacles have the function of arms, and that the back two take over the function of legs," said Sea Life biologist Oliver Walenciak.
Unlike humans and some other animals, most octopuses did not appear to be left-handed or right-handed. Those that were suffered from eye problems on their less-favoured side.
"People have always assumed that octopuses coordinate their ... gripping behaviour through visual data. That seems to be true. When one eye is weak, another side of arms is favoured," said Walenciak.
The findings would help care for sick octopuses by allowing them to be fed from the correct side, he added.
Sea Life said the number of observations in its study significantly exceeded that in previous academic investigations."
Do you think "arms" and "legs" are applicable to octopi? Octopuses' eight tentacles divide up into six "arms" and two "legs", a study published by a chain of commerci... more -
Shark vs Octopus
Ever wondered which would win in a fight? Well here is your chance to find out.
-
Radiohead Octopus
Are you sick of waiting around for a new iPhone? Check out our five hottest viral videos while you wait. Today we found the impossible piggy-backflip and four other awesome clips. Enjoy.
To watch the full versions of all five videos just click on the links in the comments section below. Are you sick of waiting around for a new iPhone? Check out our five hottest viral videos while you wait. Today we found the impossible... more -
Octopuses handed Rubik's Cubes
Twenty-five octopuses have been given Rubik's Cubes in a research study but marine experts don't expect them to crack the puzzle.
Instead they want to determine if the sea molluscs have a favourite tentacle for picking things up.
Scientists believe the intelligent sea creatures have a preferred arm out of eight that they use to feed and investigate with - just like humans are right or left-handed.
They are testing the theory with a month-long observation project at 23 Sea Life Centres across Britain and Europe by giving them food and toys to play with.
Claire Little, marine expert at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, Dorset, said the study could also help to reduce stress among octopuses.
She said: "It will be very interesting to see the results.
"Uniquely, octopuses have more than half their nerves in their arms and have even been shown to partially think with their arms.
"We hope the study will help the overall well-being of octopuses. They are very susceptible to stress so if they do have a favourite side to be fed on, it could reduce risk to them."
A diagram of an octopus will sit alongside the tanks with the arms on the right labelled R1, R2, R3 and R4 from front to back. The left arms will be numbered in the same way but with an L instead of an R.
When items such as a ball, a jam jar and Lego bricks are dropped into the water visitors can note down which arm was closest to the object and which arm picked it up.
If the octopus uses several arms, they must write them all down but in the order they touched it.
Staff at the centre will also do the same during feeding time.
Miss Little said: "Visitors will be handed a form asking them to participate in our study.
"We will add the results to all of the data that has already been collected about octopuses. It will also help towards solving the mystery of handiness in the animal kingdom."
The results will be analysed by Sea Life Centre biologists and the results will be announced in the autumn. Twenty-five octopuses have been given Rubik's Cubes in a research study but marine experts don't expect them to crack the pu... more -
Do octopuses have a favourite tentacle?
Twenty-five octopuses will today begin twiddling a Rubik's Cube in the name of scientific research.
Marine biologists concede they have little hope of the eight-limbed sea molluscs solving the fiendish plastic puzzle. Instead, the month-long project at 23 Sea Life Centres across Britain and Europe will examine octopus intelligence in an attempt to discover if they have a favourite tentacle for picking things up – much as humans are right or left-handed.
Octopuses belong to the same family as slugs and snails, but scientists believe they are far more intelligent than their relatives. The researchers will give the 25 assorted creatures food and toys to play with, and record which limbs the animals use.
Claire Little, a marine expert at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre, explained: "Uniquely, octopuses have more than half their nerves in their arms and have been shown to partially think with their arms.
"Many animals have been shown to favour a certain arm so we will see if octopuses can be added to that list."
If the experiment indicates a preference it could shed new light on the structure of octopus brains. What's more, octopuses are susceptible to stress, so finding if they have a favoured side on which to be fed could improve their well-being in captivity.
A diagram of an octopus will sit alongside the tanks with the tentacles on the right labelled R1, R2, R3 and R4 from front to back; the left tentacles labelled L1 and so on.
If the octopus uses a combination of arms, up to three will be recorded in sequence. A ball, a jam jar and Lego bricks will also be dropped in to the water for the octopuses' inspection. The giant Pacific octopus, the common octopus and the lesser octopus will all star in the research.
Previous work has shown them to have a capacity for learning and surprisingly complex memories. In 2003 an octopus in a German zoo wasrevealed to have learnt how to open jars of shrimps by copying staff. The five-month-old animal opened the jars by pressing its body on the lid and grasping the sides with its eight tentacles.
The results of the latest research will be analysed by Sea Life Centre biologists and the results announced in autumn. "We hope it will help towards solving the mystery of handedness in the animal kingdom," added Ms Little. Twenty-five octopuses will today begin twiddling a Rubik's Cube in the name of scientific research. ... more -
Man admits octopus porn downloads
An Australian man has admitted in court to downloading octopus porn, alongside images of pony, tiger and snake smut.
The 48-year-old man's lawyer explained that Rodney Scott McLagan suffers from a personality disorder, which makes him feel as if he is 'some sort of beast.' An Australian man has admitted in court to downloading octopus porn, alongside images of pony, tiger and snake smut. ... more -
Love in the octopus' garden
Apparently, octopus' love lives are more complicated than we thought. They flirt, hold hands, get jealous.
Male octopuses guard the den of their mates to ward off rivals, and strangle them if they get to close.
Small males sneak in the dens by swimming low and pretending to be female.
Size matters, males go for the biggest females because they produce the most eggs.
Drama! I thought people love was hard, imagine being strangled when you try to pick up someone else's lady. "Whatcha man got to do with me," won't cut it, I would run away lest I get strangled. Apparently, octopus' love lives are more complicated than we thought. They flirt, hold hands, get jealous. ... more -
To Cook an Octopus: Forget the Cork, Add Science
Forget vinegar and daikon and dipping and wine corks comically bobbing in the cooking liquid.
Instead, try brining this creature from the briny deep.
Or, give octopus juice a chance to do the stewing. Forget vinegar and daikon and dipping and wine corks comically bobbing in the cooking liquid. ... more -
First Ever Hexapod Discovered
"British marine experts have found what they claim is a world first -- a six-legged octopus, or 'hexapus,' whom they have christened Henry.
The unique sea creature, which has two limbs fewer than a normal octopus, is believed to be the result of a birth defect rather than an accident, say his keepers at the Blackpool Sea Life Centre in northwest England." "British marine experts have found what they claim is a world first -- a six-legged octopus, or 'hexapus,' whom they ha... more -
Six-legged 'hexapus' claimed as world first in Britain
British marine expert claim to have found, what they say is, the world's first six-legged octopus and they named him Henry.
The 6 legs, instead of 8 is believed to be the result of a birth defect.
Hexapus is a cool word! British marine expert claim to have found, what they say is, the world's first six-legged octopus and they named him Henry. ... more -
The octopus who loves his Mr Potato Head
The 1.8m-wide (6ft) creature is so attached to Mr Potato Head that he turns aggressive when aquarium staff try to remove it from his tank. The 1.8m-wide (6ft) creature is so attached to Mr Potato Head that he turns aggressive when aquarium staff try to remove it from his t... more
-
Octopus vs. Shark: Guess who won
If you put an octopus and a shark in a tank together, don't expect either to play nice.
-
related topics
Octopus
Contributors (81)
Octopus
