The ocean is filled with all kinds of interesting creatures. Everyone knows about clownfish, the striped and colorful fish popular in several animated movies. Everyone knows about sharks, one of the deadliest creatures in the sea. That said, how much do you know about the octopus? You may know it has eight tentacles. You may know it has suction cups on those tentacles. What else do you know? These extremely smart cephalopods are not only interesting due to their strange appearance, but also because of their mysterious allure. These deceptively smart creatures are elusive and creepy, holding many secrets. Are you interested in learning more about them? Read below for some interesting octopus wall art facts.
Age, Hearts, Plural, Aristotle & Arms
- When creature is mechanically “perfect,” they rarely change through the means of evolution. In other words, creatures that function well in their environments usually do not physically change much across long periods of time. Octopuses embody this fact. The oldest known octopus fossil has been dated to 296 million years ago, existing during the Carboniferous period. Scientists have described it as looking like a “flat cow patty” or a big “splat.” A close examination, however, reveals that this ancient octopus had eight arms and two eyes just like the current octopus. To put this into perspective, long before life had progresses beyond small dinosaurs, octopuses had already established themselves as perfect sea creatures.
- Most organisms function with one heart, if they have a heart at all. Octopuses are special; they have three. Two of the hearts work only to move blood beyond its gills, while the third heard keeps blood circulating through its organs. When an octopus starts swimming, the third hear stops beating. This is why octopuses tend to “crawl” on the ocean floor rather than use all of their tentacles to propel themselves in order to swim; swimming is too taxing on their third heart!
- Interested in the etymology of the word “octopus?” Well, it comes from the word “oktopus” from the Greek language; this directly translates to “eight feet.” Due to its Greek origin, the English word follows that languages rules for pluralization; instead of calling multiple of this animal “octopi,” we call them “octopuses.”
- Philosophers are renowned for having a lot of foresight. We often look back to what they wrote in the past to see if we can glean any meaning from their work today. Aristotle is one of the most well known philosophers. Did you know he wrote a book called the History of Animals? Written in 350 BC, the philosopher wrote that, ”The octopus is a stupid creature, for it will approach a man’s hand if it be lowered in the water; but it is neat and thrifty in its habits: that is, it lays up stores in its nest, and, after eating up all that is eatable, it ejects the shells and sheaths of crabs and shell-fish, and the skeletons of little fishes.” Aristotle thought the octopus was dumb! This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The octopus is renowned for being one of the most intelligent creatures in the sea; studies have shown that octopuses have the ability to navigate through mazes, solve problems and remember solutions, and take things apart for fun.
- In humans, neurons (the particles that fire off and help our bodies function) reside within our brain. Interestingly, octopuses have two-thirds of their neurons placed within their arms, not their sack-like heads. Due to this, their arms technically have minds of their own! Their arms can problem solve how to open a clam while the actual octopus is doing something else, like checking a cave to see if its inhabited. Read below for more octopus wall art facts.
Ink, Blood, Culture, Mating, & Food
- When you think of octopuses, what comes to mind first? Their tentacles? Maybe their suction cups. For many people, they probably first think about their ink-spraying ability! Octopus ink is usually used by octopuses whenever they need to hide. If they sense a predator, they’ll eject ink as a type of smokescreen, then quickly dart away. Did you know their ink isn’t only used to hide? It’s also used to physically harm their enemies. It contains a compound called tyrosinase, which causes irritation when it touches eyeballs. It also alters a creature’s sense of taste and smell.
- Do you know why blood tends to be red? It’s not because blood is naturally red on its own; instead it depends on the chemicals inside. Mammals evolved so that our blood is composed of iron; iron gives blood its distinct red color. Octopuses, living in the deep ocean, evolved so that their blood is based on copper; this gives their blood a distinct blue color. Copper-based blood is more efficient as transporting oxygen through the bloodstream when water temperature is extremely cold.
- Across many cultures, animals have come to represent many things. For instance, the dog is a symbol of loyalty in many cultures around the world. Strangely enough, the octopus represents eroticism in Japan! In Japan, many famous historical paintings have revolved around the octopus and its relationship to humans in an erotic capacity. Odd, huh?
- For most creatures, mating is a practice that results in offspring that are cared for by parents indefinitely. Octopuses are somewhat different. When octopuses decide to reproduce, their days are numbered. After the male inserts spermatophores into the female, the male wanders off and dies. Once the female lays her eggs, she guards them until they hatch. Once hatched, the female’s body undergoes a strange type of cellular suicide.
- Seafood is one of the most delicious delicacies in the world. Have you ever eaten octopus? If you have, or at least want to, maybe you should know where they come from? Octopuses raised for human consumption mostly comes from North and West Africa, surprisingly enough. Originally cultivated mostly in Asia, the surge in demand for octopuses in this area led to a significant decrease in the overall octopus population. Since the 1980s, the large octopus populations near the African continent have been the main source of edible octopus. Did you enjoy these octopus wall art facts?
Conclusion
Now that you know so much more about octopuses, don’t you find them extremely interesting? These creatures have existed for millions and millions of years, essentially unchanged. This evolutionarily “perfect” creature is one of the greatest examples of successful life on Earth. Has this article inspired you to learn more about them? Are you interested in visiting the local aquarium to find out more? Maybe you want to eat one? Whatever you do, we’re glad to read our blog! Thanks for reading these octopus wall art facts.