octopus
WTF Fun Fact 12606 – Octopuses Getting Punchy
Octopuses are incredibly smart. In fact, we’re only just now starting to learn how their complex brains work.
Take this factoid, for example. Octopuses need so much intellectual stimulation that those in captivity require games and puzzles to keep them from eating off their own arms out of boredom!
But did you know octopuses also have a bit of a mean streak?
Researchers have observed the creatures punching fish in the past – everything from a warning “boop” to a “curl up and let ’em have it” punch. Punching is pretty rare, but in many cases, the researchers could ascertain some reason for the punch. Usually, the octopus was trying to keep the fish from spoiling its meal.
However, sometimes octopuses punch fish for revenge. And revenge isn’t something we usually think of as relevant to underwater creatures.
More recently, Eduardo Sampaio recorded the underwater action. He also concluded that some octopuses seem to haul off and punch their hunting partners for no reason at all. That is, they don’t stand to benefit in any way from punching the fish.
Sampaio even posted a video to Twitter to illustrate the punching action:
So, apparently, “throwing a sucker punch” is yet another factoid we can add to humanity’s ever-growing list of things we know about but can’t explain when it comes to octopuses.
Source: “Octopuses Punch Fish, Sometimes For No Apparent Reason” — NPR
WTF Fun Fact – The Semelparous Octopus
After laying eggs, the female octopus’ only function is to protect and tend to their eggs. They remain stationary for anywhere from months to years depending on the species of octopus, uninterested in food and slowly dying. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The grim, final days of a mother octopus — ScienceDaily
WTF Fun Fact – Octopus Hearts
An octopus has 3 hearts. One pumps blood through its organs; the 2 others pump blood through its gills. When an octopus is swimming, the organ that delivers blood to the organs stops beating. This exhausts the octopus, which is likely the reason they prefer to crawl than swim. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Octopus Facts | Live Science
WTF Fun Fact – Rectangular Pupils
Sheep, goats, octopuses and toads have rectangular shaped pupils. These animals need to have a defense both day and night, but they don’t have vertical slits like cats since they need to survey their surroundings more accurately. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.science20.com/variety_tap/evolution_rectangular_eye
WTF Fun Fact – Clever Octopus
A giant Pacific octopus named Billye took ~55 minutes to initially open a childproof bottle. After some practice, she could execute the push-and-turn trick—without any instruction—in an average of 5 minutes. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Speedy Octopus Sets Record for Jar Opening – Scientific American Blog Network
WTF Fun Fact – Octopus Autophagy
When captive octopuses are bored they become stressed out and some turn to a behavior called autophagy, or eating their own arms. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.livescience.com/41924-smart-octopus-facts.html
