Whether you know it or not, octopuses are incredible. They're some of the smartest creatures under the sea, they can change their appearance entirely, and some of them are pretty darn cute.
Below, 11 facts sure to convince you that octopuses are your new favorite animal.
1. Octopuses are widely considered to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates.
Scientists say octopuses are capable of learning from experience and maintaining short- and long-term memory. They've also been observed using tools in an intelligent manner -- such as coconuts for personal fortresses.
2. Octopuses have three hearts. And blue blood.
Two hearts serve to move blood past the gills, while the third pumps blood through the rest of the body.
3. Saying "octopi" is incorrect (unfortunately).
Though "octopi" is colloquially sound and very fun to say, the correct plural of octopus is octopuses.
4. They aren't called "tentacles," they're called ''arms."
Which, again, is way less fun. Tentacles are reserved for squid, cuttlefish and nautiluses. Octopuses have eight arms, zero tentacles.
5. And each arm has a mind of its own.
Some two-thirds of an octopus's neurons reside in its arms, meaning they can react to stimuli and function at a fairly high level on their own, even when severed from the body.
6. If Houdini were an animal, it's safe to say he would have been an octopus.
Since octopuses have no bones in their bodies, they can squeeze through the tiniest of cracks, making them masterful escape artists.
7. Octopuses are considered erotic in Japanese culture.
Octopuses have been incorporated into Japanese art for centuries, often in overtly sexual situations.
8. Their camouflage abilities are out of this world.
For ocean predators, octopuses are some of the most difficult prey to spot. Their skin changes color and pattern to blend in with their surroundings. Even when you find yourself looking directly at an octopus, chances are you won't realize it.
9. Partly because they can "see" with their skin.
Scientists recently found that octopus skin contains the same light-sensitive proteins present in octopus eyes, meaning an octopus's skin can sense and respond to light without information from the eyes or brain.
10. Rather than swimming, octopuses often walk along the seafloor.
Which is hilarious, but mostly useful -- when an octopus swims, the heart that pumps blood to its organs stops beating, so crawling is a more efficient, less exhausting alternative.
11. Some octopuses, like the dumbo octopus below, are unexpectedly adorable.
One species of octopus is so cute, it might be named Opisthoteuthis Adorabilis.
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