Octopuses that live in all the world’s oceans are especially found in warm and tropical waters. Some species live on the bottom of the ocean, while others live mostly near the water surface. There are also species that prefer to live in deep and dark waters.
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Naturally, as they live in the seas and oceans feeding on sea creatures While the octopus species living on the sea floor feed on sea worms, sea snails and crustaceans; Pacific species feed on crabs, shrimps and lobsters. While their eyes and brain structures are at a developed level, they have no spine. Thanks to their soft and flexible structure, they can easily pass through holes that are not as big as their eyes, or avoid being prey. In this article, we hope that you, our valuable readers, find answers to all their questions about octopuses.
What is Octopus?
Octopus; Latin Octopoda It is a creature known by its scientific name, with a soft body and eight arms. Octopuses, which come from the family of cephalopods without shell, are the general name for sea creatures with tentacles. It is mentioned in some sources that octopuses are a species of cuttlefish. Octopus name in ancient Greek eight feet It means. The females of these creatures that reproduce by laying eggs incubate and do not leave their eggs until they hatch.
Octopuses are 2-3 santimetre in size, as well as sizes that vary up to 10 meters. While the weight of an adult octopus is generally 15 kilogram, the span of its arms is around 4 meters. The highest recorded weight of an octopus of this type was 71 kilogram. It özgü been recorded that a giant octopus weighing 272 kilogram and an arm span of 9 meters lived in the North Pacific. These giant octopuses can live for an average of 5 years.
Octopuses, a living being that uses its superior intelligence to hide from their enemies, can move very quickly. They don’t live for very long years. Their lifespan is usually related to their reproduction. With the effect of reproductive hormones, it causes the digestive glands to become inactive, and as a result, octopuses may starve. Living in warm waters can help them survive longer.
These interesting creatures have to hunt in order to survive. Their ability to hide among rocks helps them hunt better while also hiding from their enemies. Since they have a moist body, they cannot survive on land for a long time, but it is known that they go ashore to hunt crabs on the shore.
What Are The Characteristics Of Octopuses?
Octopuses are amazing animals with very interesting features, with round bodies, bulging eyes and eight arms. General features are as follows;
- There are approximately 300 accepted varieties.
- Octopuses have three hearts. This feature is necessary for him to survive because it enables him to use the power of his body to the fullest.
- Although it is fearless and dangerous, it is actually a timid creature. In deep seas, in order to be protected from external factors, between rocks and hollows they live in hiding.
- Octopuses with greater courage when hunting can sometimes attack larger animals such as sharks.
- If an octopus arm breaks, a new one comes out to replace the broken arm.
- When they feel threatened, they secrete an ink liquid that darkens the water and thus confuses the attacker.
- Octopus and squid in the group of mollusks have a large brain structure. Brain sizes are greater than the brain-body ratio of some vertebrates.
- Just like chameleons, they can change color according to the color of their environment. This way you can easily camouflaged they can be and adapt to their environment.
- Octopuses due to their ability to change color “Sea chameleon” can also be called.
- The colors they take vary depending on the environment and can be generally gray, brown, pink, blue or green.
- Sometimes they change color in order to communicate with other octopuses.
- They have black, brown, purple and spots on their bodies.
- It takes the ability to move from the eight arms that come out of his head. There are two rows of suction cups on each arm.
- Catching and wrapping prey is thanks to the suckers on its arms. The suction cups stick to the animal to be hunted and prevent it from escaping. It kills with venom secreted from the salivary glands and ruptures its prey with its powerful jaws.
- Octopuses’ nerve neurons are in their arms.
- Apart from crawling on the rocks, they move by crawling on the ground thanks to their absorbent arms and they have the ability to go back at a high speed by spraying the sucked water from the siphon with pressure.
- When not in danger, they can float in the water by flapping the curtain between their arms.
- Octopuses can quickly draw and discharge water from the device under their funnel-like heads and thus move easily.
- Octopuses his saliva is poisonous.
- Thanks to their superior intelligence, they prevent mussels from closing by placing stones between their shells, which are a favorite food.
- When he feels in danger, he can spray his enemies away by spraying water.
- They are not aggressive creatures. They can bite when provoked.
- With the opposite effect of the water they spray, they can fly off quickly.
- In some experiments, it özgü been observed that octopuses have long-term memory.
- They are also thought to have learning abilities, although their reality özgü not yet been proven.
- Octopuses are creatures with the capacity to solve problems, and they can exhibit movements that can be defined as games.
- It özgü been observed that these creatures can cross labyrinths, find certain targets, and unravel colored knots and knits.
- Objects that can make sounds and have bright colors under the sea attract the attention of octopuses.
- They are afraid of large animals and people.
- It is the only creature that özgü a complex brain structure.
- The way octopuses hunt is ambush hunting. They eat some of their prey after paralyzing them with their poisonous saliva.
- Octopus meat can be eaten by humans. In our country, it is mostly hunted around Ayvalık. Octopus salad, stew and fries are made from its meat.
How Does Reproduction Happen in Octopuses?
Sexual Octopuses, which are in the group of creatures that breed as a breed, reproduce by eggs. Female octopuses reach maturity at 16-18 months, while males reach maturity at 8-10 months. Because female octopuses often die shortly after spawning time to reach maturity in females it determines their lifespan. Males live longer than females.
During mating, the male approaches the female octopus and sits on the female’s mouth, inserting his arm through the female’s mantle cavity and releasing his sperm. Mating can take several hours. Male and female repeat this process for a week.
The female octopus must find a safe place for spawning because its eggs should not be disturbed. Females can sometimes produce up to 400,000 eggs. Fertilized eggs are thrown out by the liquid secreted from the ovary. Finding a nest, the tooth covers the holes and cracks with small stones for the safety of the nest.
The mother octopus will never leave its eggs until the young hatch. Even though they struggle with hunger, females who do not lay their eggs can even eat their own arms when they are hungry. When the hatched eggs hatch in 20-25 days, the female octopus his life ends.
History of Octopuses
Quite a long history It is known that octopuses found lived around 296 million years ago. It özgü even been determined that they lived before the dinosaurs that lived many years ago today.
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Are Octopuses Poisonous?
A certain amount in all octopus species poison is found. The species that can carry deadly poison to humans blue spotted octopus (Haoalochlaena lunulata). Being the most venomous octopus in the world, this creature can kill a person in one bite. There is no antidote yet. While these venomous species exist in the east of the Pacific Ocean, there is no poisonous octopus in our country.
The venom is usually found in their saliva and they use it to paralyze and consume some of their prey. It is known that they poison this poison from crabs and lobsters through their gills. Attacker Although they are not built, they attack more moving creatures.
Scientific Classification of Octopuses
Realm: Animalia (Animals)
Branch: Mollusca (Molluscs)
Class: Cephalopoda (cephalopods)
Team: Octopoda
Family: Octopodidae
Genus: Octopus
