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Different individuals belonging to the species Octopus chierchiae

Spotting the way octopus stripes vary could help us conserve them

12 April 2023

The configuration of brown and white stripes on pygmy zebra octopuses (Octopus chierchiae) varies between individuals, which could help researchers monitor them in the wild


Octopuses caught on video throwing silt and shells around themselves and at each other

Female octopuses intentionally throw debris at harassing males

9 November 2022

Female octopuses intentionally throw debris at harassing males


Octa-glove

Octopus-inspired glove lets you manipulate objects underwater

13 July 2022

A glove with artificial suckers inspired by those found on octopuses allows people to securely grip delicate objects underwater, and the technology could be added to robots in future


Octopus bimaculoides

A steroid might be why octopuses starve themselves after mating

12 May 2022

After mating, female octopuses increase production of a steroid hormone, which may drive them to starve themselves while guarding their eggs


MC8MNB This view shows some of the suckers on this eight armed cephalopod. Day octopus, Octopus cyanea, Hawaii.

Octopus brains may have become complex the same way human brains did

17 March 2022

The relatively high intelligence of octopuses may be due in part to high numbers of microRNAs that could let them generate more types of neurons


A cluster of deep sea octopus Muusoctopus robustus at Davidson Seamount, off California.

Deep-sea ‘octopus garden’ has warm water that speeds egg hatching

2 March 2022

Thousands of brooding octopus mothers gather at a spot 3200 metres deep off the coast of California because warmer water there dramatically reduces hatching times


An almost-transparent, newly-hatched gloomy octopus

Newly hatched gloomy octopuses may seek out light to catch tiny prey

16 December 2021

Two-millimetre-long gloomy octopus hatchlings move towards a source of light, possibly because it makes it easier to hunt prey


Octopus djinda lives along the southwestern coast of Australia

Newly recognised octopus species described in south-west Australia

9 November 2021

Octopus djinda is caught in fisheries and eaten by people, but has only now been recognised as a separate species from another Australian octopus


octopus

How many hearts does an octopus have?

9 April 2021

An octopus has three hearts: Two peripheral ones in its gills and a further central heart that serves its organs and muscles.


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