What makes the octopus unique?

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This blog is almost, but not entirely, about Rh negative blood and issues. It is also about things I have learned many Rh negatives to be interested in. Which includes me. When I find something of interest to me, I will share it.

This one is about octopi. The first one is new to me, the other two I know. Nevertheless, here is the list of three:

1)

They feel pain.

Eating them alive is not cool. Here is what I’ve found so far:

A science-based report from the University of British Columbia to the Canadian Federal Government has been quoted as stating “The cephalopods, including octopus and squid, have a remarkably well developed nervous system and may well be capable of experiencing pain and suffering.”

Pain in cephalopods is a contentious issue. Pain is a complex mental state, with a distinct perceptual quality but also associated with suffering, which is an emotional state. Because of this complexity, the presence of pain in non-human animals, or another human for that matter, cannot be determined unambiguously using observational methods, but the conclusion that animals experience pain is often inferred on the basis of likely presence of phenomenal consciousness which is deduced from comparative brain physiology as well as physical and behavioural reactions.

Most animal welfare legislation protects only vertebrates. However, cephalopods have a special position among invertebrates in terms of their perceived ability to experience pain, which is reflected by some national and international legislation protecting them during research.

2)

They can change colors while sleeping/dreaming.

In case you’re wondering, this picture is real from an octopus in a fish tank in the middle of a living room.

3)

Their blood is copper-based and therefore blue.

To survive in the deep ocean, octopuses evolved a copper rather than iron-based blood called hemocyanin, which turns its blood blue. This copper base is more efficient at transporting oxygen than hemoglobin when water temperature is very low and not much oxygen is around.

Image Source: Reddit

What have I missed?

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11 Comments

  1. Ken August 11, 2020 Reply
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  3. Ken October 31, 2020 Reply
  4. Ken November 25, 2020 Reply
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