Did You Know That An Octopus Has Blue Blood?
1. Octopuses are colour blind
Despite its ability to imitate, colour-change and camouflage, Octopuses are colour blind. Scientists are still perplexed on how they could imitate and camouflage to corals and rocks underwater without knowing the colour of the objects they are camouflaging with.
2. Cute but Venomous: The Blue Ringed Octopus
The Blue-Ringed Octopus is one of the smallest octopuses in the world. However, despite its cute size, it packs the most venom which can paralyze and kill an adult human within a matter of minutes. There is currently no antidote for the venom. It is regarded as one of the most venomous creatures in the animal kingdom.
3. Octopus have 3 hearts
Octopuses have three hearts: one pumps blood around the body; the other two pump blood to the gills. It makes sense because their bodies are pretty much made from muscles and no bones, plus the special composition blood.
4. A Female Octopus can lay up to 400,000 eggs
Once in a lifetime, a female octopus can lay up to 400,000 eggs and they will guard the eggs till the hatchlings are hatched. The female octopus usually would sacrifice themselves and dies after as they would stop eating during the process.
5. Octopus have blue blood
The protein, hemocyanin, which carries oxygen in the octopuses’ blood stream contains copper instead of iron like we humans have in our haemoglobin. Due to the high content of copper, it makes the blood blue in colour.
6. Octopus arms have a mind of their own because they have 9 Brains!
Every arm on the octopus is individually controlled by its standalone nervous system, about 400,000 neurons controlling every arm. Even if the arm is being severed, it continues to move for hours and it can grow back after time. The arm operates independently yet may work together toward the same goal. This is useful when they are fending off predators while swimming away and holding on to their hunt at the same time.
7. Octopus that can imitate: The Mimic Octopus
The Mimic Octopus is The Master of Disguise. It is the most interesting octopus out of the whole octopus’ family, with its ability to mimic other creatures such as fish swimming, crab crawling on the ground, sea snake swimming, any up to 15 different types of mimicry.
8. Some Countries Banned Performing Surgery on Octopuses without Anaesthesia
If you have a pet Octopus in your fish tank at home, your local vet is not allowed to perform surgery on it if you are living in the U.K. Recent years, they have made it illegal, together with some other countries to ban performing surgery on octopus without anaesthesia, due to its ability to feel like how human does.
Learn more about octopi and other amazing animals in BBC Earth magazine!