FAQ - Octopuses
Answers to FAQs regarding product shipping.
IS OCTOPUS AN INGREDIENT IN YOUR PRODUCTS?
No, they are not an ingredient but an inspiration. Octopuses are super intelligent creatures that are able to adapt to multiple environments and regenerate or heal when they get hurt. They represent the high standard we hold for science, data, and our resulting products.
IS IT OCTOPUSES OR OCTOPI?
According to Merriam Webster, the answer is kinda both. There are actually three plural forms of the word: octopuses, octopi, and octopodes (rhymes with “on top of these”) [1].
“Octopi” is technically the older word, and it’s based on the idea that Latin words should have Latin plurals. The word “octopus” is actually based on a Greek word, but it eventually made its way to Latin [1].
“Octopodes” uses the Greek plural for it, but it is not used as much [1].
“Octopuses” is based on the idea that since it is an English word, we should use the English plural for it [1]. Here at Octo, we use this form because it is still proper English, and it’s not based on pluralizing a Latin word that didn’t even originate from Latin.
CAN YOU SHARE A COOL FACT ABOUT OCTOPUSES AND HEALTH?
Yes, how does ten of them sound?
COOL FACT #1: ARM REGENERATION
Octopuses can regenerate their arms when they are cut off. Other animals can regrow limbs, but the regeneration is usually only partial. For octopuses, their arms are 100% just like the original [2].
Their healing is possible because of undifferentiated stem cells. These are cells that do not have a particular function, but they can divide into new cells that do. So through the octopus’s stem cells, they are able to create new nerve and muscle cells, which in turn become new nerves and muscles. This is a huge process because each arm is a miniature brain in itself that the octopus is growing [2].
COOL FACT #2: OCTOPUSES ARE VERY, VERY OLD
The oldest fossil that we know about was from an animal that died about 296 million years ago [3]. Just to put in perspective how old that is, dinosaurs would not exist for another 50 million years after that.
You can find this particular fossil at the Field Museum in Chicago. It is part of a species called Pohlsepia, and it has been described as a “flattened cow patty.” But when you look closer, you can see the eight arms and two eyes that make it an octopus [3].
COOL FACT #3: THEIR BLOOD IS BLUE
To survive in the deep ocean, octopuses evolved a copper-based type of blood called hemocyanin, which turns blue when exposed to oxygen. In contrast, our blood is red from the iron-based hemoglobin. Octopuses’ blue blood can transport oxygen more efficiently than hemoglobin when the water is really cold and there is not a lot of oxygen around [3].
The downside to this is it makes them sensitive to changes in acidity. If the pH in the water gets too low, not enough oxygen gets circulated in their bodies. Because of this, researchers are worried about our mollusk friends as climate change makes the oceans more acidic [3].
COOL FACT #4: FOR OCTOPUSES MATING = DEATH
Mating is one of the last activities an octopus does with its life. After a male octopus does the deed, they leave and die shortly after [3].
But the females still have a job to do. They lay up to 400,000 eggs and obsessively guard them. During this time, they stop eating. Once the eggs hatch, the female's cells kill themselves off until she dies [3].
COOL FACT #5: THEY USE TOOLS
Octopuses are one of several highly-intelligent animals that have been seen using tools. Others include crows, dolphins, and chimpanzees. Scientists have even seen some of them using coconut shells like mobile homes [4].
COOL FACT #6: THEY CAN OPEN CHILD-PROOF PILL BOTTLES
Or at least one can. She’s a giant Pacific Octopus at the Seattle Aquarium named Billye. Biologists there tested whether or not she would be smart enough to open a bottle. The cephalopod did not disappoint. She unlocked the top and got a snack out of it within five minutes [4]!
COOL FACT #7: YOU SHOULD NEVER LET THEM GET BORED
If you ever find yourself taking care of an octopus, this is something you should know. If the animal lives in a tank where there is no stimulation, it can get really bored. Some octopuses have been known to eat their own arms when this happens [4].
The way to avoid this is when there is interesting decor such as flowerpots and shells. Apparently, that is enough to get them to not do that [4].
COOL FACT #8: THEY ARE LOADED WITH POISON
Octopuses have venom that is made by bacteria that lives inside them. But don’t worry, there isn’t enough in most octopuses to harm you, unless it’s a small blue-ringed octopus. An adult human bit by one of those can get paralyzed in a matter of minutes [4].
COOL FACT #9: ARISTOTLE THOUGHT OCTOPUSES WERE DUMBER THAN A BOX OF ROCKS
In 350 BC, Aristotle wrote in the History of Animals that octopuses are stupid because when a person puts their hand in water, the octopus will approach it [3].
What he didn’t know is that octopuses are actually so smart, they can find their way through mazes, remember solutions, solve problems, and take things apart [3].
COOL FACT #10: NORTH AND WEST AFRICA ARE WHERE MOST OCTOPUSES THAT PEOPLE EAT COME FROM
Eating octopus is popular throughout the world, and recently that includes the United States. The country that consumes the most octopus is Korea, but it is big throughout East Asia as well as Greece, Spain, and other countries [3].
This popularity has impacted the amount of octopuses living in the ocean. The number went down by half in Japan between the 1960’s and the 1980s. So starting in the 80s, fisheries in North and West Africa became a major source for octopus. This has recently started taking a toll on waters in those areas as well [3].
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE COOL FACTS ABOUT OCTOPUSES?
We certainly do. You can find more information about octopuses in our blogpost “FIVE SUPERPOWERS THAT MAKE OCTOPUSES THE HEROES THEY NEED.” [LINK TO BLOGPOST]
SOURCES
Merriam-Webster. The many plurals of ‘Octopus.’ https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plurals-of-octopus-octopi-octopuses-octopodes
Sranko, G. Can octopus arms grow back? (Are regenerated limbs just as good?). BioGeoPlanet. https://biogeoplanet.com/how-octopus-arms-regenerate/
Nuwer, R. (2013, October 31). Ten curious facts about octopuses. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-curious-facts-about-octopuses-7625828/
Gannon, M. (2013, December 13). 8 crazy facts about octopuses. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/41924-smart-octopus-facts.html
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