Octopus Vulgaris

The octopus group makes up around a third of the worlds cephalopod population, with around 300 species found in waters around the world. The octopus can be found in the all the worlds oceans, with the octopus ranging in size from a just few centimeters to number of feet depending on the species of octopus!
The octopus often has a sharp beak, and an octopus will always have eight arms (unless any have been lost). Most species of octopus generally have arms with circular sucker pads on.

The lifespan of the octopus depends on the species of octopus, with many species of octopus averaging around 6 months old. Some species of octopus however, particularly the bigger octopus species, can live for a few years.

The octopus is well known for being a master of disguise and is able to blend into pretty much any background using its elaborate camouflage. The octopus not only uses this to its advantage for both hiding from potential prey and predators, but it is also thought to play a role in the male octopuses mating display, in order to attract a female octopus.

The octopus is also thought to have three hearts, two of which are used for pumping blood through the gills, and another for pumping the pale blue blood of the octopus through the rest of the body.

Generally, most species of octopus have no internal or external skeleton which means that the octopus is able to squeeze itself into tight places. The octopus is known to be one of the most intelligent of all the invertebrates and the octopus uses this to its advantage mainly using elaborate disguise.


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Helen can you have Octopus .. in a marine set up .. I am sure i have seen mini Octopus .x

You can have a marine specific set up but they have to be kept on their own as they will gobble fish and inverts - has to be escape proof as well - if they can get a tentacle through the will get the rest of their body though - brilliant escape artists and very clever creatures

Thankyouu ... I think they are amazing .x

i hate them, there really scary and clever wich makes them even scarier!! xx

You can build perspex tunnels in the aquariums and they will travel through them to get to the food at the other end.

Going to see if i can find any video links .x

Interesting but kind of scary....didn't they find this really really huge one at the bottom of the sea a few years ago...?

awww i would love an octopus..i could set it on jake x

Lol now you no what scares him x

they are the scariest animals ever!! (one of)!!! i will never ever meet you now nikki!! xx

they sound very interesting.

I think they are rather amazing .. creatures .

i find them really scary, its just the fact that they can crush you really easily because they have a beak like jaw - not sure if thats all of them - but still scary. and they are escape artists eewewewewewe!!! lol xx

they can grow hugemungas as well, cant they?

some can but some can be small it depends on the breed xx