Photo: AP

Octopuses and Their Incredible Eight Arms

Octopuses are one of the most fascinating animals in the ocean. They have eight arms, and each arm can move on its own. This makes octopuses very special and different from most other animals. Unlike humans, who usually have a right hand or left hand they prefer to use, octopuses do not have a dominant arm.

However, scientists have found that octopuses tend to use their front arms more often than their back arms when doing different activities.

The arms of an octopus are full of suckers. Each arm has between 100 and 200 suckers. These suckers are not just for grabbing things—they are also sensitive and can sense touch, taste, and texture.

This helps the octopus to explore its surroundings, catch food, and move safely on the ocean floor. The way octopuses use their arms shows how smart and adaptable they are. Even if an octopus loses an arm, it can continue to function normally using its remaining arms.

Observing Octopuses in the Wild

For a long time, most studies about octopus behavior were done in laboratories. Scientists would watch octopuses in tanks and try to understand how they moved or used their arms. But this is not the same as watching them in their natural habitat. Octopuses in the wild behave differently than those in tanks. They face dangers, explore bigger areas, and interact with many other creatures. Observing wild octopuses gives scientists a better understanding of how these animals really live.

Between 2007 and 2015, researchers studied videos of octopuses in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. These videos showed octopuses crawling on the seafloor, swimming, standing in certain positions, and exploring their environment.

By carefully watching these videos, scientists were able to see which arms the octopuses used for each activity. They found that the front four arms were used much more often for tasks like crawling, grabbing objects, and exploring. The back arms were mostly used for movement-related activities, such as balancing, rolling, or supporting the octopus as it moves.

Front Arms vs. Back Arms

The distinction between front and back arms is important. Octopuses seem to naturally prefer using their front arms when they need to perform precise tasks. For example, when they reach out to grab food or touch something new, the front arms are the ones that do most of the work.

The back arms, on the other hand, are used to help the octopus stay stable and move efficiently. This division of labor between the front and back arms shows that octopuses are highly organized in how they use their limbs.

Each arm of an octopus is incredibly flexible and strong. The arms can bend in almost any direction, twist, and stretch. This flexibility allows octopuses to reach into small spaces to find food or hide from predators. The suckers on the arms can attach to surfaces tightly, which helps the octopus climb, crawl, or hold on to objects. Some scientists compare octopus arms to having multiple hands that can think and act independently, which makes them very unique in the animal kingdom.

Why This Study Matters

This study is important because it is one of the first to observe octopuses in their natural environment for such a long period. Watching them in the wild gives a more accurate picture of how octopuses behave. The results show that octopuses have a natural preference for using their front arms for most tasks. This tells us that even animals without a “dominant hand” can still have patterns in how they use their limbs.

By understanding how octopuses use their arms, scientists can learn more about their intelligence and problem-solving skills. Octopuses are already known to be very smart. They can solve puzzles, escape from tight spaces, and even use tools. Knowing how they use their arms helps explain how they interact with their environment and survive in the ocean.

The Versatility of Octopus Arms

One of the most interesting things about octopus arms is how versatile they are. Each arm can do many things at once. For example, an octopus can use one arm to hold onto a rock, another arm to grab food, and the remaining arms to move along the seafloor. This ability to multitask makes them very effective hunters and survivors.

Octopuses also use their arms for communication. They can change the position of their arms or display certain patterns to signal other octopuses. This is part of their complex behavior and shows that octopuses are not only intelligent but also social in certain ways.

Even if an octopus loses one or more arms, it can still survive. The remaining arms can take over the lost arm's functions. This ability to adapt is one of the reasons why octopuses have been able to survive in oceans for millions of years. Their arms are not just tools—they are an essential part of how they live, hunt, and interact with the world around them.

Scientific Observations

The study recorded several key behaviors of octopuses in the wild:

Crawling: Octopuses mostly use their front arms to pull themselves along the seafloor. The back arms help balance their body as they move.

Swimming: When swimming, octopuses use a combination of arm movements and jet propulsion. The front arms often lead the movement, while the back arms stabilize.

• Standing or “Stilting”: Octopuses sometimes lift their body using their back arms while the front arms explore or touch objects.
• Rolling or Tumbling: Back arms help in rolling motions when the octopus wants to move quickly or escape from danger.
• Exploring: Octopuses use their front arms to reach into crevices, feel surfaces, and grab objects.

These observations show that octopus arms are highly specialized. Each arm can act as a separate limb with a specific role, but they also work together as a coordinated system.

What Makes Octopus Arms Special

Octopus arms are different from most other animal limbs because they contain their own nervous system. This means each arm can process information and react independently of the brain. The brain still coordinates overall actions, but the arms are intelligent in their own way. This is why an octopus can use multiple arms at the same time for different purposes.

The suckers on each arm are also remarkable. They allow the octopus to hold objects tightly, feel the texture of surfaces, and even taste what they touch. This makes the arms highly sensitive and extremely useful for exploring the ocean floor.

Octopuses are some of the most unique animals in the world. Their eight arms give them abilities that no other animal has. The front arms are mainly used for exploring, grabbing food, and performing tasks, while the back arms help with movement and balance. Each arm is equipped with hundreds of suckers that sense the environment and help the octopus interact with it.

Studying octopuses in their natural habitats has given scientists new insights into their behavior, intelligence, and adaptability. These animals are not just fascinating because of their looks but also because of how smart and capable they are. Even if an octopus loses an arm, it can survive, showing how versatile and resilient these creatures are.

Understanding octopus behavior helps scientists learn more about intelligence and adaptability in the animal kingdom. Octopuses may not have a “dominant hand,” but their front arms clearly play a key role in how they live and survive in the wild. Their incredible arms, with independent movement and sensory suckers, show just how remarkable these sea creatures are.

Octopuses remind us that the ocean is full of amazing creatures that are smarter and more adaptable than we often realize. Their eight arms are a symbol of their intelligence, skill, and ability to survive in a complex and sometimes dangerous world. Watching and studying them continues to teach us new things about life in the ocean and the extraordinary abilities of these fascinating animals.

Key Points Recap:

• Octopuses have eight arms, each with 100–200 suckers.
• They use front arms more for tasks and back arms for movement.
• Each arm can act independently with its own nervous system.
• Octopuses are highly intelligent and adaptable.
• Studying wild octopuses gives a better understanding of their behavior.