Scientists have already achieved astonishing feats of research exploring the behavior of the Octopus americanus. You might recognize this amazing invertebrate as the common octopus. A new joint study detailed the arm swinging behavior of these animals. It showed that they use their arm suckers more than their eyes to find food. This innovative research sheds light on how these extraordinary creatures experience their underwater worlds. It was implemented in multiple communities across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Spain.
Beyond their ingenious behaviors, the well-documented study illustrated how octopuses dwell in beautiful and diverse habitats, from smooth sandy seafloors to complex coral reefs. Closer to home for me at least, researchers have discovered that octopuses spend around 80% of their time tucked inside their dens. They fly out only once or twice each day to hunt for food. In the video above, scientists recorded at least twelve different kinds of arm motions employed by the octopus. They were able to accomplish this by looking at video recordings.
Arm Movements and Sensory Functions
The Octopus americanus has a total of eight arms, each divided into three segments. These arms are incredible in their mobility. The motions vary according to which portion of the arm is leading the movement. The arm suckers might just be “chemo-tactile geniuses”—their functions comparable to that of the human nose, lips, and tongue.
“The octopus is a very tactile animal—it’s more tactile than visual,” stated Roger Hanlon, a leading researcher who has dedicated over 25 years to studying octopus behavior. Due to the octopus’s limited vision, it uses touch as a primary way to explore and understand its world. This implies that its moves are mainly led by feeling instead of sight.
Kendra Buresch, another researcher involved in the study, elaborated on the significance of these arm movements: “These are the actions that make up the whole complex of octopus behaviors.” These results suggest that such movements are necessary for locomotor and foraging-related behaviors.
Field Study Challenges
Conducting this research was no easy feat. Hanlon highlighted the difficulties of studying wild octopuses: “The fieldwork is very arduous, and it takes a lot of luck to get valid natural behaviors.” The team’s efforts involved extensive observation and recording of octopus behaviors in their natural habitats, allowing them to analyze a broader behavioral repertoire.
Chelsea Bennice, another researcher involved in the project, noted the importance of this fieldwork: “Studying and recording octopus behavior from wild octopuses in the field gave us the opportunity to analyze a larger behavioral repertoire and further understand how they use their arms to achieve such complex behaviors.”
The study’s methodology underscores Hanlon’s belief that understanding an animal’s sensory world is vital for meaningful research. “I’m a strong believer that you have to get into the natural world, and especially the sensory world, of whatever animal you study.”
Applications of Research Findings
The impacts of this research go far beyond scholarly pursuit. By understanding how octopuses interact with their environment, we can develop potential applications ranging from robotics to medicine. Hanlon posed a pertinent question regarding practical applications: “How do you deliver a drug or a phone or water to someone who’s down there?” He stressed the importance of looking for flexible solutions able to adjust to the multifaceted world beneath the water’s surface.
“You need some snaky little arm with high flexibility that can not only get down there but can do something useful when it arrives,” he explained. Such inspirations have already resulted in new technologies that imitate the octopus’s other extraordinary talents.