Buhairi Rifqa Moustafid
The octopus (Octopoda) is a mollusk from the Cephalopoda class that resides in coral reefs in the ocean as its primary habitat.
The octopus is a marine organism renowned for its eight tentacles used for movement and hunting beneath the sea.
This creature has a relatively short lifespan, with some species living only for six months.
Larger species like the North Pacific giant octopus can live up to five years under suitable environmental conditions.
Generally, the body size of octopuses ranges from 1.5 centimeters to 3 meters (0.59 inches to 9.84 feet), although a record length of 20 meters (65.62 feet) has been documented.
The average weight of an octopus typically ranges from 3 to 10 kilograms (6.61-22.05 pounds). However, the specific Pacific Giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) can weigh around 50 to 272 kilograms (110.23-599.66 pounds).
Reproduction is one of the causes of death; male octopuses can only survive a few months after mating, and females die shortly after laying eggs.
The female octopus can lay as many as 200,000 to 400,000 eggs. Deaths occur due to the octopus’s neglect of feeding for about a month while guarding unhatched eggs.
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A Master of Camouflage
The octopus excels in camouflage, with unparalleled abilities to blend seamlessly with its environment. No other species can match their extraordinary capacity to adapt to surroundings rapidly.
Color, brightness, contrast, and skin texture across the entire body of the octopus can change in 200 milliseconds or less than the blink of a human eye.
The reason for their adept environmental blending lies in specialized color-changing cells called chromatophores.
Pigment colors such as black, brown, orange, red, and yellow can be found in chromatophores.
Additionally, they have iridophores for producing green, blue, gold, and silver colors, while leucophores contribute white hues.
Intelligent, Memory-Equipped, Tentacled Brain
These tentacled mollusks possess a substantial nervous system, averaging around 500 million neurons or brain cells. This places them in the same ‘brain range’ as smaller mammals like dogs.
However, unlike dogs, humans, and others, most neurons are found in the tentacles rather than the brain, with almost twice as many neurons.
Each sucker on their arms may have 10,000 neurons to process sensation and touch. Moreover, these invertebrates can be trained and exhibit excellent memory capabilities.
Research over the past 70 years indicates their ability to perform simple tasks. In one experiment, they successfully pulled a lever to obtain a reward, such as a piece of sardine.
They have even undergone visual tests and faced simple tasks, such as remembering something with one eye closed and then the other. They outperform many other animals, including pigeons.
Possessing Three Hearts with Blue Blood
While humans and most animals have only one heart pumping blood throughout the body, cephalopods are different. They not only have one heart but three.
The main heart is called the systemic heart, functioning similarly to a human heart, pumping blood throughout the body.
The other two hearts are branchial hearts or gill hearts, due to their proximity to the gills. Contrary to the main heart’s function, branchial hearts pump blood through the gills.
Interestingly, the octopus’s blood is blue, containing copper-based proteins known as hemocyanin.
This necessitates the need for two additional hearts to balance and pump blood under high pressure.
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Capable of Body Regeneration and Envenoming Foes
Octopuses can regenerate lost body parts, similar to starfish. If one of their arms is severed, it will promptly grow another.
This process begins internally, producing nerve tissue and ending with the suction cup on the exterior.
Acetylcholinesterase and AChE proteins play a crucial role in the octopus’s ability to regenerate. These proteins are involved in cell differentiation and replication.
They are highly active in mollusks, allowing them to regrow damaged body parts almost immediately after loss.
Additionally, octopuses possess toxins, and some species have venom that can be fatal to humans. For example, the blue-ringed octopus’s bite can be lethal.
Although it may sound ominous, most of their types have toxins that are not fatally harmful to humans. Their toxins are primarily used to injure predators and immobilize prey.