If you have ever encountered an octopus while exploring Bermuda’s waters, consider yourself lucky. Octopuses are incredibly shy creatures and although they are native to Bermuda, they can be hard to find as they are most active from dusk into the night. Here are 5 other facts that you might not already know about the Octopus vulgaris.

  1. Due to their introvert behaviour, octopuses are experts at hiding themselves and their homes. By using its camouflaging abilities, the common octopus can almost instantaneously match the colours, patterns and even textures of its surrounding environment. If, by chance, a predator does spot them, an octopus will release a cloud of black ink to disorientate them, allowing itself time to flee. As for their abodes, octopuses seek shelter under rocks, in holes or crevices and even protect themselves with shells or other objects they can gather.
  2. Octopuses have three hearts. One heart exclusively circulates blood around the body, while the other two pump it past the gills, to pick up oxygen.
  3. The Octopus vulgaris is one of the most studied of all octopus creatures, and is also considered the most intelligent of all invertebrates. Two-thirds of an octopus’ neurons live inside of its arms, allowing them to problem solve and hunt for food with remarkable efficiency.
  4. In order to survive the depths of the ocean, octopuses have evolved a copper rather than iron-based blood, which turns its blood blue. This copper base called hemocyanin, is more efficient at transporting oxygen when water temperature is very low. However, this makes the octopus very sensitive to changes in acidity.Some researches have expressed concern about how the progression of climate change-induced ocean acidification will affect the animals in the future.
  5. Unfortunately, the common octopus has a short life span, especially the males who die after mating. As for the females, they can lay up to 400,000 eggs, which they fearlessly protect. Motherly instincts consume them until the eggs hatch, and as a result, their health is neglected until they too, eventually die.