How fast can octopus move

Octopuses use unique strategies to coordinate their arms while crawling, the researchers found. The cephalopods are bilateral symmetric, which means their left and right sides are mirror images of each other. Most bilateral-symmetric animals face forward when they are moving, with a few notable exceptions, such as the crab, which moves sideways.

But octopuses can crawl in any direction relative to their body orientation, the researchers said. In other words, octopuses don't have to turn their bodies to change direction; one of an octopus's arms can simply push off of a surface and propel the animal any which way, Levy said.

The scientists also found that the octopus moves by shortening and elongating its arms, which creates a pushing thrust. The animal does not move by bending or pulling its arms, which simplifies matters for the creature, Levy said.

However, after watching hours of octopus videos , the researchers determined that the octopus has no detectable rhythm. Octopuses have three functioning hearts.

Two of the hearts work exclusively to move blood to the gills, while the third pumps blood through the rest of the body. Rather than iron-based blood, their blood is copper-based, which is more efficient at transporting oxygen at low temperatures and makes their blood blue in color. Octopuses are solitary creatures excellent at camouflaging and concealing themselves. They are about 90 percent muscle, and because they lack bones, they can fit through very small spaces.

Their skin contains cells called chromatophores that allow the octopus to change color and pattern. They are believed to be quite intelligent—capable of learning, using tools, and remembering locations. There is tremendous range in the size of octopus species found in U. The giant Pacific octopus Enteroctopus dofleini , found off the Pacific coast of the United States from California to Alaska, is the largest octopus species in the world. It has an arm span that can reach 14 feet four meters.

The common octopus Octopus vulgaris , found along the east coast of the U. The red octopus Octopus rubescens , found along the Pacific coast, grows to about 20 inches 51 centimeters.

Octopuses are found in every ocean of the world and along every coast of the United States. Octopuses live in coastal marine waters and spend much of their time in dens—small holes and crevices in rocks and coral.

They are generally solitary and territorial. Moray eels, fish , seals, sperm whales , sea otters, and many birds prey on octopuses. Although its Latin name translates as "the vampire squid from hell," the vampire squid is actually a gentle steward of the ocean's depths, gracefully foraging on marine detritus. Science Friday. Latest Episode. Activity Type: Engineering design challenge. A soda bottle and a balloon are great for modeling the mantle and mantle cavity of a cephalopod.

A Zych. Cut the top 3 inches off of the smaller of the two soda bottles. Cut a small hole into the bottom of the bottle. Place the balloon inside the bottle so that the neck of the balloon comes out of the cut top of the plastic bottle. This is your basic cephalopod!

And check this out — they build their dens themselves by moving the rocks into place with their powerful arms. Cool, eh? Although octopuses are not considered endangered, they do face dangers from human activity.

Such threats include habitat destruction, and a reduction in their main foods due to over fishing and marine pollution. While you wait for it to be checked and approved why not to add a pre-selected message and a cool badge. My comment is about an octopus. It tickles people and then they go above the surface and they drop down on their prey then they eat it.

I love octopuses. They live in the water and their cousin is a squid. They live under water in the deepest part. I have always loved octopuses and I would love to handle one they are so interesting sea life is so epic and I want to be a marine biologist. I love Marine-Biology. I would like to become a Marine-Biologist when I'm older.

This is a great site! I love all the facts and info about animals! I want to be a scientist when I'm older so all of this is really useful.