El Octopus, is a marine octopod, lacking an internal and external skeleton. Because of its ease, it is taken as the most skillful and ingenious of the invertebrates. This article shows a complete and fascinating content of this animal with a peculiar appearance, capable of hiding secrets.
The octopus
El octopus, is an invertebrate mollusk, that is, a member of the division of the animal kingdom. Devoid of internal and external skeleton, also having the peculiarity that its body is soft. Therefore, it does not have any covering that protects it from the danger of its predators. It has eight tentacles, which is why it is called an octopod.
His intelligence, sagacity and dexterity place him as the most cunning of his kind. Studies show that he has a unique memory. As well as an impressive capacity to respond to the inconveniences that arise during your displacement. Other of his prominent abilities is that of possessing the ability to imitate, copy or repeat the behavior of animals.
But before all this, there is the most amazing, which is the ingenuity or cunning to entertain and outwit what are supposed to present themselves as predators. Because finally he manages to escape leaving them bewildered and deceived. However, whenever it is possible for him, he adopts the appearance of the elements of his environment because he is one of the animals that camouflage.
With what is perfect to adapt through its powerful flexibility, both to shapes and colors, without leaving textures behind. However, there are times when all these deception adventures are not accurate and he resorts to another that will surely save him, which is to expel his ink, leaving his predators with a vision of no clarity.
This causes their predators to stay in front of totally cloudy water where their olfactory ability is also diminished. Providing the octopus with the right moment to escape without being seen, after taking in water and expelling it, which is the propulsion mechanism by which it moves.
Nothing stops you from taking control
With its behavior, facilities, techniques, cunning, malice and even delicacy, it seems that yes, the octopus is a master of survival or subsistence. He does not give up, his responsiveness is admirable and countless times impeccable, he knows how to deceive and does not stop at frustrating the many attempts of his enemies.
Studies have shown that predators such as the fearsome sharks, conger eels, dolphins, groupers, and even eels, are not even aware of their presence. Because the octopus with its sagacity has excelled in the art of camouflage, while they swim and swim by their side without noticing their presence.
It should be noted that in various situations, when a predator takes a tentacle, to catch it, it is useless. Because even if you get rid of it, you will be able to continue living because it will regenerate itself over time. Without representing a reason that causes impediment or damage to its development or existence.
Their presence in Mythology or Culture
Interestingly, it has become normal that the octopuses make their shocking appearances in various stories where there is the existence of horror and panic. Where it has been shown as it is, as with other presentations where they have used techniques that show fantasy.
There are examples such as Kraken, from Scandinavian mythology, which represents a huge monster from the depths that came to the surface to attack ships and eat sailors. Another corresponds to Akkorokamui, a monster of great size, part of the folklore of the Ainos.
On the other hand, these octopod animals are interpreted in a category of Japanese print referring to the conceptualization and presentation of sex as an art, called Shunga.
Octopus Taxonomy
According to the information provided by the English zoologist, marine biologist and also a member of the Royal Society (FRS), William Elford Leach, in 1818, the taxonomy of the octopus is as follows:
- Scientific name: Octopoda
- Animalia Kingdom
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Cephalopoda
- Subclass: Coleoidea
- Superorder: Octopododiforms
- Order: Octopoda
- Suborders: Cirrina – Incirrina
Origin and Evolutionary Development of the Octopus
Records show that the class of marine invertebrates is part of the mollusk phylum. Called cephalopods, they have subsisted for around 500 million years. Where, on the other hand, the ancestors of the octopods came to populate the seas during the Paleozoic Era. Specifically in the Carconiferous period, for a time that oscillates around 300 million years. The most primitive steolith (fossil bone) belongs to the Pohlsepia, which existed 296 million years ago.
One has, as is to be understood, that the study of its fossil is, moreover, extremely complicated. For being that the octopus It is a soft tissue animal without a skeleton. In addition, they have always had their same characteristics of eight arms, three hearts and nine brains.
Recent studies have provided the information or discovery that octopuses use an evolutionary system that is inappropriate for other multicellular organisms studied. In this sense, it is known that the variations that possess the aptitude and strength to be useful at the beginning of the creation of molecules occur in the DNA. To then pass to the RNA, where they are transformed into the so-called, alterations in proteins.
But it turns out that the research shows that the same thing does not happen in octopuses, or at least not exactly. Because they have the peculiarity of transforming their proteins without altering the DNA. Where its researchers have given the name to the procedure carried out "RNA editing". Being cataloged considerably unusual and extraordinary.
Octopus Habitat
These Poisonous animals they inhabit all the oceans of the globe, that is, all the salty waters. Having as a preferred place or best hiding place, the coral reefs. Although it can live perfectly in cold waters, the ones that stand out when choosing are the warm ones. Belonging to tropical climates as well as temperate climates.
All these benefits related to adaptation is what makes it possible to be observed in the various marine habitats of the planet. It is important to mention that the octopuses that are kept in cold waters have the peculiarity of developing larger dimensions. Regarding those who prefer warm waters.
Normally, the so-called "Common Octopuses" are kept in the intertidal pools, formed between the rocks at the seashore. The "Great Blue Octopus" develops mostly in coral reefs. The "Argonauts", for their part in the pelagic waters or piélago. That is the column of water belonging to the ocean that is not above the continental shelf.
The "Abdopus Aculeatus" lives in the seats called seagrass beds, populated by plants, very close to the coast. As for those that live in cold waters, there is the "Bathypolypus Arcticus", which lives in the deepest flat areas of the seas and oceans (1.000 meters), called abyssal plains.
But this one is surpassed by the "Vulcanoctopus Hydrothermalis", whose habitat is the vicinity of hydrothermal vents at a depth of about 2.000 meters. On the other hand, the suborder of cephalopod molluscs, called "Cirrinos", is found in all deep waters.
Octopus Characteristics
Among the relevant octopus characteristics there are the following:
- They are an order of omnivorous molluscs.
- They lack internal and external skeleton, so they are soft.
- They have eight tentacles, each with two rows of totally sticky suckers.
- It is found in all the oceans of the globe.
- Its size changes according to the species and whether it is found in warm or cold waters.
- It has two pairs of salivary glands, one of which is poisonous.
- In his head is a brain, the three hearts and the pair of eyes.
- Two hearts carry blood to the gills, while the other carries blood to the body.
- Their eyes distinguish both images and colors.
- They are completely deaf.
- Their skin contains pigmentation cells called chromatophores in the dermis, giving them the ability to mimic, which is to change their color by resembling that of the environment. With which it camouflages itself and does not end up being captured by its predators, almost all the time.
- Its eight tentacles, each equipped with a brain, connect to the main one located in its head. Where in harmony they direct and dominate the movements and actions.
- The blood in your body is blue in color, which is due to the molecule present called hemocyanin. Responsible for executing the transport of oxygen through the bloodstream.
- Its movement is carried out after violently expelling the water it takes through the orifice of its siphon.
- In its mantle are the viscera, apart from the gland that is responsible for making the ink.
- They are shy, because they prefer to be hidden and always go unnoticed.
- Its memory and response capacity is prodigious, being cataloged as the most intelligent of the invertebrates.
Octopus Parts
Regarding the octopus parts, you have to the body of these octopod animals. It is provided with the following three regions, delimited and specific, which are:
- Mantle: The mantle of the octopus is made up of all its organs, knowing then that the gills are also included in it. For what is established, which is one of the animals that breathe through gills. It is also made up of the reproductive organs, the digestive tract and the ink sac.
- Extremities: They are made up of eight tentacles, in which each one is provided with two rows of totally sticky suckers with which it adheres to where it wants. As well as allowing it to hold its prey before eating it. The tentacles have the peculiarity of holding or specifying a link with the head, the brain, the three hearts, the mouth and the eyes.
- Head: The head of the octopus represents the most voluminous part of its body. Inside it is the brain and the three hearts and on the outside you can see the eyes and mouth, in which it has a very strong horny beak.
Parts Distributed in the Three Regions
These include the following:
- Hearts: There are three in total, located inside your head. Two of them carry blood to the gills, while the other carries it to the rest of the body.
- brains: The octopus has nine brains, where eight are distributed, each one in a tentacle and the last one in the head. That it is the main one, of greater size and from which the commands initially arise, which later, in harmony with the eight, manage to carry out their actions.
- Eyes: These are found in the head, having a considerable development that allows them to create images, as well as differences or discriminate colors.
- Salivary glands: These are two, being in turn, one of them poisonous.
- horny beak: This is located at the entrance to what is his oral cavity, which has incredible strength.
- gills: In the octopus, the gills are a difficult part to see, where the water passes through them, helping it in the breathing process.
- Siphon: This part is what allows the octopus to eject, expel, fan or throw the water it takes in, thus being able to execute its forward movement.
- Viscera: They are located in the dorsal area of its body, close to the site where the ink it produces is stored or accumulated.
- Ink bag: This is the part where the ink is stored.
- Skin: The skin refers to the entire cover or coating that occupies and protects your body, in which the pigmentation cells that are called chromatophores are found. Which give them the benefit of modifying their color by adapting it to the environment, being able to camouflage themselves from predators in the various situations that are dangerous.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Octopus
Regarding the anatomy and physiology of the octopus, the following are considered:
Size
The largest recorded species in the octopus It is the so-called "giant octopus" (Enteroctopus dofleini), where the male specimen normally reaches a weight of 15 kilograms. Registering some tentacles of approximately 4 to 5 meters in length. The veracity of this octopod weighing 71 kilograms has been demonstrated through the actions of scientists.
On the other hand, you have the amazing seat of an animal with tentacles 9 meters long and a total weight of 272 kilograms. Opposite this record is the smallest species of all, which is the "Octopus wolfi", with a dimension that ranges from 2,5 centimeters and weighs less than 1 gram.
External Morphology
Regarding its external morphology, the octopus It has a soft body, with a large, well-developed head. Their eyes are of considerable size, fully distinguishable, having the ability to identify both images and colors. That virtue is provided by the fact that their eyes have a lens and an iris that regulates the entry of light. So their visual uptake is highly developed.
Its eight tentacles are equipped with two rows of sticky suckers each. The same, meet at the base of his head, where his mouth is equipped with a very strong horny beak. In the mantle are the viscera, as well as the ink deposit used as a defense, to escape from predators.
It has a siphon that allows it to expel the water with great force and thus carry out its displacement. This siphon has the peculiarity of changing direction so it will give its angle with respect to where it wants to move. In its skin there are pigmentation cells called chromatophores, which are what allow it to adapt to its environment. Changing color and texture, which is its valuable camouflage strategy against its enemies.
Breathing
According to the types of animal respiration, the octopus has to carry out the same, gill breathing. This consists of introducing the water through the mantle cavity through a hole. It is then driven towards the gills until it is finally thrown out, ejecting it through the siphon.
It should be noted that it only breathes while they are swimming, because when they "walk on the bottom", it does not. This means that they only achieve it by taking the water that enters through the opening of the mantle, rich in oxygen, until completing the process. So your breathing is linked and adjusted to the movement.
It is important to clarify that the mechanism in which the hole in the mantle opens, like the siphon, works like valves. When it opens to let the water in, it closes immediately preventing it from coming back and that is when it is led to the gills. When, on the contrary, it is going to come out through the siphon, it opens, the water comes out and closes to prevent the entry of water through this site.
All this mechanism is executed by the muscles of the mantle, where the more they contract. Greater will be the impulse taken at the outlet and in turn more oxygen will be obtained. That will produce a movement of your body to the opposite side.
Circulatory system
The octopus is the only animal to have three hearts, where, as described above, two hearts are responsible for driving blood to the gills. This enters without oxygen and when it leaves it is supplied with oxygen through the action of the third heart towards the rest of the body. This makes them feel constantly tired when swimming, so they are usually seen walking on the bottom of the seabed.
His blood is blue and is due to the hemocyanin it contains, which is what allows the transport of oxygen, which includes copper. The opposite is true for hemoglobin, which includes iron. For its part, without hemocyanin, it would not be possible to transport oxygen in the blood at low temperatures or when it was limited in obtaining it.
Digestive system
Before developing how it is done, it is necessary to clarify that the radula is an organ that contains powerful muscles that make it easier for it to propel itself out of the mouth. Being its mechanism of action similar to that of an element used to scrape.
The process of the digestive system has its beginning in the mucus that produces and expels the octopus by your salivary glands. Which humidify the radula, making it possible to amalgamate the portions to be ingested. Following this, comes the passage through the esophagus to the stomach where the digestive glands contained in the liver are presented.
At this time, the transfer of the mucous mass in which the ingested food is found, called prostyle, is protected by a number of cilia. Where this mass enters the ducts of the digestive glands, and then excretes the waste into the intestine.
Excretion
The excretory organs that the octopus possesses are the kidneys of the "tubular metanephridia" type, called the "Bojanus organ". These are really two, and it is important to mention that in the metanephridia there are, in turn, two or more internal liquid compartments. The typical metanephridium is linked through one of its ends to the pericardial cavity.
On the other hand, the rest is attached to the outside by means of a “nephridiopore”. Which is a blind sac that excretes waste through what is called "excretory pores", immersed in the mantle cavity.
Nervous system
Regarding his nervous system, the octopus It has 500 million neurons. This amount can be compared, for example, with those present in the dog, which are 530 million neurons. Also with those found in the cat, which add up to 250 million neurons. So there are considerably enough of the octopus.
Where, two thirds of these are found in the brain, while the remaining portion constitutes the base of the eight tentacles. This means that each of the tentacles has a practically independent development.
Senses
This has in an outstanding way that of vision, which is highly developed, so much so that they can distinguish images and colors. This is due to the lens, where it can also adjust the entry of light through the iris it has. Because they are totally deaf, they are prevented from making use of their vocalization.
In its tentacles, the suckers serve to feel every sensation and also adhere, that is, it constitutes its sense of touch, along with that of taste. Because through these, it knows whether or not a food is to its liking, by perceiving its flavor, thanks to the chemoreceptors it contains.
Its sense of smell is at the end of its tentacles, which are sensors by which it captures all smells. Both from its food and from its predators, thus knowing, by getting a crack, whether or not it can hide by bringing a tentacle closer and picking up the scent.
ink sack
In Taxonomic classification of animals, specifically in the one made at the beginning of this article, mention is made of the suborder of the octopus. Where it is named that one of the two that make it up is the "cirrinos", well, this is the only one devoid of the ink sack. Which is filled by the secretion produced by the ink gland found below the digestive gland.
This ink gland is the same as the rectal one, which becomes an ink gland after being modified. In turn, this space where the ink is stored is close to the siphon. So when he throws the stream of water next to the ink, it mixes in such a way that it forms like a cloud around him. Its main pigment is called melanin, which is what gives it its black coloration.
Octopus Life Cycle
The life cycle of the octopuses is made up of reproduction and its life expectancy, of which we must:
Reproduction
These octopod animals have a complete sexual reproduction, in which the male introduces his reproductive member to the female. Which is what is visualized as the third right tentacle. This is scientifically called “hectocotylus”. Being able to penetrate the female through her cloaca the numerous spermatophores that will fertilize her.
After the act, the female goes to her cave where she deposits up to approximately 150.000 eggs (seen as clusters) on the roof of the cave. After a time that oscillates around 30 days, they will hatch and their young will be born. Often the mother octopus will die of hunger because she endures until she sees them hatch without moving from the cave. She only protects them and oxygenates their environment.
It should be noted that octopuses are semelparous, this means that they only carry out a reproductive event within their life expectancy.
Life expectancy
This species of marine invertebrate animals has a really short life expectancy. That according to the species ranges from 6 months to five years. Where the male manages to live a few months after fertilizing the female. While the female after the sexual act, she dies at the moment her young are born. Which is about a month later.
The Octopus, Predator and Prey
Just like the octopus It is an excellent marine predator, it is still a prey for animals such as eels, moray eels and even sharks. Therefore, he has to use all his intelligence, skills and even tricks, to get out of the presence of these enemies.
However, others become their diet, after becoming a predator. With its potential ingenuity and delicacy, it catches large animals such as otters, dolphins or seals, until it eats them completely.
Curiosities of the Octopus
Among the most outstanding curiosities are:
- They perceive the smell through the sensors located at the end of their tentacles.
- All its species are poisonous.
- They have three hearts.
- Nine brains command your life and actions.
- They are oviparous and the female lays approximately 150.000 eggs.
- They have a horny beak.
- It is the most intelligent of the invertebrates.
- His blood is blue.
- They can walk, as well as hold on to anything and of course swim.
- Their flexibility allows them to go anywhere.
- Its tentacles can regenerate.
- They have about 500 million neurons.
- They only experience one reproductive event during their lifetime and soon after they die.
- Your best defense is camouflage.
- He is a great imitator.
- It inhabits all the oceans of the globe.
Octopus Feeding
Among its characteristics, it is necessary that these octopods are Omnivorous animals, that is, their diet is based on fish, crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, shrimp), molluscs (mussels, cockles, clams) and seaweed.
However, they also have the facility to eat what happens to them when they do not get what they want. The way they ingest their prey is by tearing it apart, with the force of their powerful jaws, through the use of their horny beak. Where to achieve this, he has previously left her immobile by injecting his poison through his saliva.
The Octopus in Gastronomic Art
Gastronomically, it is considered a true delicacy, which is only perfect for those who really have the ability to cook it. While for some its cooking is easy, for others it is a nightmare. Because from one moment to another, its meat hardens with a tendency to be chewy and very difficult to chew.
It is recommended that it be cleaned under a tap before cooking it and that the pot to be used be large. On the other hand, it is important to mention that its meat is mainly rich in selenium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus and vitamin B. Along with this, the advantage of being a low-calorie food, very nutritious, delicious and desired by many.
