NPR: Octopus = Awesome

Octopus = Awesome

Filed under: News

Today on the show we learned a lot about octopuses (or octopi -- either is acceptable). Some researchers in England are giving octopuses Rubik's Cubes to see if they favor some arms over others. Other research has revealed just how smart these creatures are. A 2003 experiment showed that octopuses could learn to open jars by watching humans do it. Check out this one at work:

For more interesting octopus info, including footage of an octopus taking out a shark, watch the National Geographic video after the jump...

Dan Pashman

8:45 AM ET | 07-10-2008 | permalink

Comments

I have spent a fair amount of time among captive octopi during my time in college (we had a small aquarium at Humboldt State) and now at work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I have seen an octopus open a jar when it realized that there was a live crab inside and seen them attempt to help the lab tech clean their holding tank. They are definitely intelligent, too smart for their own good soem times.

Sent by Ryan | 8:24 AM ET | 07-11-2008

@Ryan and completely off topic...

My uncle Todd works at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! Small world...

Sent by April | 11:02 AM ET | 07-11-2008

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