Octopuses have six "arms" and two "legs" by Michaela Vargova

BERLIN, Thu Aug 14 – A new study published on Thursday by aquatic investigators brings interesting results. Scientists analysed data from 2,000 observations of common octopuses to achieve the results that octopuses' eight tentacles divide up into six "arms" and two "legs". “The creatures seemed to favor their first three pairs of tentacles for grabbing and using objects,“ Sea Life aquariums said. Biologists assume, the front six octopuses' tentancles take over a function of arms, while the back two, like limbs, are in fact used as legs. In general, octopuses are considered to be the most intelligent invertebrates of the world and are also able to use and grab tools with their sucker-covered tentacles.
The study also carried out, whether also octopuses favoured one side before the other one. Unlike humans, scientists came to result that octopuses are ambidextrous, but at the same time many seem to favour their third arm from the front for the business of feeding. "People have always assumed that octopuses coordinate their gripping behavior through visual data. That seems to be true. When one eye is weak, another side of arms is favored. The findings would help care for sick octopuses by allowing them to be fed from the correct side," said Walenciak.
The two back tentacles used as legs push octopuses off when they want to swim, and then the rest of the front tentacles are used to propel them. Although, if the cretures need to move faster they just shoot a jet of water from an opening in their body.

by Michaela Vargova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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