17 Crazy Facts about Octopuses
- There are three plural forms of the word ‘octopus’: octopi, octopuses, and octopodes.
- Octopuses are shy creatures. They do not like to be in the spotlight.
- All varieties of octopuses are venomous but only some have enough venom to kill a human being.
- A blue-ringed octopus can kill 26 human beings within a few minutes.
- Octopuses can change the colour and texture of their skin to blend into their surroundings.
- Octopuses have two rows of suckers on each arm. The sensory receptors at the bottom of their suckers help them to ‘taste’ whatever they touch.
- If an octopus loses an arm, it is not an issue—a new one grows back in its place!
- All octopuses have three hearts.
- Octopuses have a very flexible body because they have no bones.
- An adult octopus can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime.
- The colour of their blood is blue.
- Octopuses have very good eyesight but they cannot hear.
- An octopus can easily swim backwards.
- Octopuses eject a cloud of dark black ink to escape from predators.
- A female octopus is known as a hen. It may lay up to 1,50,000 eggs in two weeks.
- Large octopuses like the Giant Octopus have also been known to catch and kill small species of sharks.
- Octopuses are very intelligent animals and experiments have proven that they possess learning abilities. They can even be trained and kept as pets.