Built differently
3hearts: two for the gills, one for the body
Blueblood, based on copper instead of iron
500 millionnerve cells, about
2/3of those nerve cells are in the arms
Each arm can taste and feel on its own, and keeps reacting even when the brain is busy.
Masters of disguise
Instant color change
Skin cells full of pigment open and close in a blink
Changing texture
They raise bumps to look like rock or coral
Squeeze through cracks
Any hole bigger than the hard beak
Ink cloud
A dark screen to escape behind
Clever and short-lived
Problem solvers
- Open jars to get food
- Use coconut shells as shelters
- Escape from aquarium tanks
A brief life
- Most species live 1 to 2 years
- Mothers guard their eggs and stop eating
- They die soon after the eggs hatch
Remember
The octopus is the closest thing to an alien living on Earth.
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Answer key
- How many hearts does an octopus have?3Two pump blood to the gills, one to the body.
- What color is octopus blood?BlueIt uses copper instead of iron to carry oxygen.
- Where are most of an octopus's nerve cells?In its armsAbout two-thirds are in the arms.
- An octopus can squeeze through any hole larger than its:BeakThe hard beak is the only rigid part.
- How long do most octopuses live?1 to 2 yearsMost species live only a year or two.