Octopus: Eight Arms, Three Hearts, and Blue Blood

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Researchers said the octopus is one of the smartest animals in the ocean. They only live in the sea — you’ll never find an octopus in freshwater.

Their lives are surprisingly short. Most octopuses live just 1 to 3 years. Some tiny species, like the pygmy octopus, only make it to 6 months. The Giant Pacific Octopus is the long-liver of the family, reaching 3 to 5 years. The reason? Octopuses are “one-and-done” parents. A female lays her eggs and guards them without eating until she dies. Males die not long after mating. Their whole life is built around that single act of reproduction.

There are about 300 species of octopus in the world, living everywhere from shallow reefs to the darkest parts of the deep sea. The record-holder for longevity is Graneledone boreopacifica. This deep-sea octopus broods her eggs for 4.5 years — the longest known in the animal kingdom. That’s why she lives longer than any other octopus.

But age isn’t the only fascinating thing about them. Females can be 40 times larger than males. While humans are about 40% muscle, an octopus is 90% muscle.

They have 8 arms — not tentacles. Tentacles only belong to squid, which have 2 of them.

And instead of 1 heart like us, an octopus has 3 hearts: two pump blood through the gills, and one pumps oxygen-rich blood through the whole body. Their blood is blue, not red. That’s because it’s copper-based instead of iron-based, which helps them carry oxygen efficiently in cold water.

On the seafloor, octopuses prefer to move quietly. Rather than swimming, they’d rather crawl to save energy. Some have even been seen “walking” on just two arms.

Here’s the wild part: almost all 300 species are venomous. Their saliva contains toxins to paralyze prey. The blue-ringed octopus has venom 1,000 times stronger than cyanide.

So, now you know — the octopus may live a short life, but it’s packed with intelligence, strange biology, and quiet superpowers. It is a true master of the deep.

Source : Nat Geo/Aquariumwhisper.com/en.wikipedia.com/