Octopuses 101 | Nat Geo Wild

Nat Geo WILD

24 Aug 201704:10

Summary

TLDROctopuses possess a complex cardiovascular system with three hearts and copper-based blue blood. Their nervous system is unique, with a brain and two-thirds of neurons distributed throughout their body, especially in their arms, which have local control and sensory capabilities. These intelligent creatures can use tools, solve puzzles, and differentiate between humans. They have a short lifespan, with females dying after laying eggs through a process of cellular suicide. Octopuses can also release deadly ink to deter predators and are masters of mimicry and camouflage, changing color and texture to blend into their surroundings.

Takeaways

💙 Octopuses have a unique cardiovascular system with three hearts; two pump blood to the gills and one circulates it throughout the body.
🔵 Octopus blood contains copper, which gives it a blue color, differing from the iron-based blood in humans.
🧠 The octopus nervous system is extensive, with two-thirds of its neurons located in its arms, allowing for independent movement and sensation.
🤔 Octopuses are highly intelligent, capable of using tools, solving puzzles, and differentiating between individual humans.
🎮 Playful behavior in octopuses is considered a sign of their intelligence.
🐙 Most octopus species have a short lifespan of one to two years, largely due to their reproductive habits.
🌊 After mating, female octopuses may strangle and eat males, and then die after laying and guarding their eggs, a process that involves cellular suicide.
🖤 Octopus ink contains the compound tyrosinase, which can impair a predator's senses and even be deadly to the octopus itself if it cannot escape.
🦸‍♂️ Octopuses are masters of mimicry and camouflage, able to change color and texture to blend into their surroundings.
🦑 The mimic octopus can alter its body shape to impersonate other animals, showcasing its advanced mimicry skills.

Q & A

How many hearts does an octopus have?
-An octopus has three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, and a third moves blood throughout the rest of the body.
What is unique about octopus blood compared to human blood?
-Octopus blood is copper-based, which makes it appear blue, unlike human blood which is iron-based.
How is the octopus nervous system organized?
-The octopus nervous system includes a brain, but two-thirds of the neurons are found throughout its body, especially in its arms, allowing significant local control and sensory capabilities.
What does the ability of octopus arms to still reach or grasp after being severed indicate?
-It indicates that the arms have significant local control and sensory capabilities.
How do octopus suckers help them in their environment?
-Octopus suckers are able to sense chemicals, allowing them to 'smell' or 'taste' their surroundings.
What are some signs of intelligence in octopuses?
-Octopuses show intelligence through their ability to use tools, exhibit foresight, retain complex memories, navigate mazes, solve puzzles, and use visual cues to differentiate between human individuals.
Why is playing considered a sign of intelligence in octopuses?
-Playing is an activity that requires a level of cognitive ability and is considered a sign of intelligence in octopuses.
What is the typical lifespan of most octopus species?
-Most octopus species live between one and two years.
How does the reproductive process affect the lifespan of octopuses?
-After mating, female octopuses die after laying their eggs, and their bodies self-destruct through cellular suicide during the egg-guarding period.
What is the composition of octopus ink and how can it be deadly?
-Octopus ink is a mixture of mucus and melanin, containing the chemical compound tyrosinase, which can impair a predator's sight, taste, and smell. It can also block a fish's gills causing suffocation. If an octopus cannot escape its own ink, its respiratory systems may be compromised, causing it to suffocate and die.
How do octopuses use their ability to change color and texture?
-Octopuses can trigger cells called chromatophores to change color and use papillae to mimic textures, allowing them to camouflage themselves and impersonate other animals.
What is the significance of the mimic octopus's ability to impersonate other animals?
-The mimic octopus can not only camouflage itself but also manipulate its body shape to impersonate other animals, which is a form of wily mimicry that helps it evade predators.

Outlines

00:00

🐙 Octopus Physiology and Intelligence

The script discusses the octopus's complex cardiovascular and nervous systems. It has three hearts, with two dedicated to pumping blood to the gills and one for the rest of the body. Octopus blood contains copper, giving it a blue color. The nervous system is unique, with a brain and a significant number of neurons distributed throughout the body, especially in the arms, which can still react even after being severed. Octopuses are highly intelligent, capable of using tools, solving puzzles, and differentiating between humans. They also exhibit playful behavior, which is a sign of intelligence. Their short lifespan is linked to their reproductive process, where males can be eaten by females post-mating, and females die after laying eggs, guarding them until they hatch.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system in octopuses is unique, featuring three hearts. Two of these hearts are responsible for pumping blood to the gills, while the third circulates blood throughout the rest of the body. This is a critical aspect of the octopus's anatomy that enables efficient oxygenation and circulation, which is essential for their survival and activity. The script highlights this as a part of the elaborate systems that make octopuses such fascinating creatures.

💡Copper-based Blood

Octopuses have a copper-based blood system, which gives their blood a blue color. This is in contrast to the iron-based blood found in humans and many other animals. The copper in their blood binds with oxygen, allowing octopuses to carry oxygen efficiently in their aquatic environment. The script mentions this as an example of the unusual and intriguing biological features of octopuses.

💡Nervous System

The nervous system of an octopus is quite advanced for an invertebrate. It includes a brain, but notably, two-thirds of the neurons are distributed throughout the body, particularly in the arms. This distribution allows for significant local control and sensory capabilities, which is crucial for the octopus's dexterity and responsiveness. The script emphasizes this as a key aspect of their intelligence and ability to interact with their environment.

💡Local Control

Local control in octopuses refers to the ability of their arms to function autonomously, even after being severed from the body. This is due to the high concentration of neurons in the arms, which allows them to maintain some level of movement and sensation. The script uses this as an example to illustrate the complexity of the octopus's nervous system and its implications for their behavior and survival.

💡Chemoreception

Chemoreception is the ability to detect chemicals, which in the context of the script, refers to the octopus's suckers being able to sense chemicals, effectively 'smelling' or 'tasting' their environment. This is an important sensory modality for octopuses, aiding in navigation, feeding, and social interactions. The script highlights this as a sign of their advanced sensory capabilities.

💡Intelligence

The script discusses the intelligence of octopuses, suggesting that it is evident in their ability to use tools, exhibit foresight, and retain complex memories. These cognitive abilities allow them to navigate mazes, solve puzzles, and differentiate between individual humans. Intelligence in octopuses is a central theme of the video, showcasing their remarkable cognitive skills compared to other invertebrates.

💡Reproductive Process

The reproductive process of octopuses is highlighted in the script as a significant aspect of their life cycle. It involves a dramatic and often fatal encounter between males and females, where the male may be eaten by the female after mating. This process, along with the female's guarding of eggs until death, contributes to their short lifespan. The script uses this to illustrate the extreme measures octopuses take for reproduction.

💡Ink

Octopus ink, as mentioned in the script, is a mixture of mucus and melanin that can be used for defense. It contains the compound tyrosinase, which can impair a predator's senses and potentially block a fish's gills, leading to suffocation. The script explains that while this ink is a defense mechanism, it can also be deadly to the octopus if they cannot escape it, emphasizing the dual nature of this biological feature.

💡Mimicry and Camouflage

Mimicry and camouflage are survival strategies used by octopuses, as described in the script. They can change color and texture rapidly using chromatophores and papillae, respectively. Some species, like the mimic octopus, can even manipulate their body shape to impersonate other animals. This ability is a testament to their adaptability and is a key part of the script's exploration of their remarkable characteristics.

💡Melanin

Melanin is a dark pigment found in the ink of octopuses, as well as in human skin, hair, and eyes. In the context of the script, melanin contributes to the color of the ink and is part of the chemical composition that can confuse predators. The script uses melanin as an example of the complex chemistry involved in the octopus's defense mechanisms.

Highlights

Octopuses have an elaborate cardiovascular system with three hearts.

Two hearts pump blood to the gills, while a third circulates blood throughout the body.

Octopus blood is copper-based, giving it a blue appearance.

The nervous system includes a brain and neurons distributed throughout the body, especially in the arms.

Arms have significant local control and sensory capabilities, even after being severed.

Octopuses' suckers can sense chemicals, allowing them to 'smell' or 'taste'.

Octopuses are considered intelligent, capable of using tools and exhibiting foresight.

They can retain complex memories, which helps them navigate mazes and solve puzzles.

Octopuses use visual cues to differentiate between human individuals.

Playing is an activity exhibited by octopuses, indicating intelligence.

Most octopus species live between one and two years, influenced by their reproductive process.

Males can be strangled and eaten by females after mating.

Females die after laying their eggs, guarding them for up to eight weeks while their body self-destructs.

Octopus ink contains the chemical compound tyrosinase, which can impair a predator's senses.

Ink can block a fish's gills, causing suffocation.

Octopuses can suffocate and die if they cannot escape their own ink.

They are masters of mimicry and camouflage, able to change color rapidly using chromatophores.

Some octopuses can imitate textures and impersonate other animals.

Octopuses' mimicry and unique characteristics make them captivating creatures of the deep.