A question which might sound silly even coming from the mouth of an eight-year-old. But you might be surprised at the variety of possible answers and theories presented by experts.
Octopus Means Eight Legs
Even the etymology of the word suggests an answer to our question. The New Latin word octopus derives from the Greek ”oktopous” which literally translates as ”eight-footed”. So there you have it, octopuses have eight legs, it’s a fact.
Or is it not?
It is, in fact, true that all octopus species are characterized by the trait of having eight arms. However, the main confusion around this fact is the term used to describe the octopus’ limbs.
Limbs, Tentacles, Arms and Legs
The octopus is classified among the cephalopods (together with the squid and cuttlefish) which is again a Latin term translated as ”headfeet”. The term cephalopods, in other words, is used to indicate that these species have their limbs attached to their heads. Therefore, while it is common to describe the octopus as having eight tentacles, the fact is that an octopus definitely has eight limbs. This distiction is emphasized by some specialists who wish to differentiate tentacles from arms: tentacles have the ability to retract and only have suckers around their tips. Instead, an arm is shorter and stronger than a tentacle and has suckers all over. In addition, tentacles generally come in pairs. So in this sense, octopus only have arms and no tentacles.
Another study suggests that two of the octopuses’ arms are mainly used as legs while the remaining six are employed for other important functions such as feeding. According to this study octopuses have two legs and six arms.
But our question remains.
Whether we call them limbs, tentacles, arms or legs, are they still always eight?
The Seven-Arm Octopus
The Haliphron Atlanticus is a sizeable octopus species widely known as the seven-arm octopus. One might assume from the name of this octopus, which is to be found in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans that it only has seven arms. The truth is that the male seven-arm octopus only appears to have seven arms. The eighth arm of the males is used for reproduction and is coiled in a sac beneath its right eye. This is the reason why the species have acquired this misleading name but in fact, even the seven-arm octopus is characterized by the existence of eight limbs.
How Many Arms Are You Missing Today?
How about all these photos and video footage featuring octopuses which have seven, six, five, or even four arms?
Are they fake? Have they been altered?
The octopus has many dangerous enemies to face during its short lifetime. Dolphins, sharks, and eels are among the fiercest. Although octopuses have developed amazing defense mechanisms, sometimes during a fight it might need to sacrifice an arm or two in order to survive. Nevertheless, the sight of an octopus with less than eight arms is not so common as one might think thanks to its incredible regeneration ability. As soon as an octopus loses or damages an arm, the process of regrowing it is initiated and it is completed when the limb is made whole again, up to its last nerve and sucker. This process lasts for around 100 days and it is surely one of main reasons why octopuses are such magical creatures.
Isn’t Eight a Bit Too Much?
Why do octopuses need so many arms? Aren’t they supposed to be extremely intelligent? If humans can make it with two, isn’t eight a bit too much?
Octopuses need their arms to perform basic functions. These functions include walking, moving, hunting for food, manipulating objects, tasting, sensing, and so much more. The majority of an octapus’ neurons are located in the arm. Recent studies have proved that the arm of the octopus works both in coordination with the brain and on its own. Even each sucker of the arm can process information independently.
Watch one of our octopuses using its arms to explore different surfaces
The arm of the octopus is so much more than an arm. If you believe that eight are too many, here is a shocking piece of information for you: a 96-tentacled octopus has been captivated and displayed in a Japanese aquarium. It is speculated that the extra tentacles are the result of an abnormality during the process of regeneration.
How many tentacles does an octopus have?
Not a simple question after all…
