The octopus is arguably one of the ocean’s most intelligent and extraordinary creatures. With nine brains, one central brain and a mini-brain in each of its eight arms, it can process information and make decisions in multiple locations simultaneously.
Each arm operates with remarkable autonomy. Collectively, the eight arms contain two-thirds of the octopus’s neurons, allowing them to act semi-independently while the central brain focuses on higher-level decisions
They have three hearts: two pump blood to the gills, while the third circulates it to the rest of the body (which is why the central heart stops beating when the octopus swims, making swimming exhausting for them).
Octopuses can squeeze through any opening larger than their beak, the only hard part of their body, and have been observed using tools, solving complex puzzles, and escaping from seemingly secure aquarium tanks.
They can change colour and texture in milliseconds using specialised cells called chromatophores, making them masters of disguise. Some species can even mimic other sea creatures.
Each octopus displays unique personality traits, and researchers have documented them showing curiosity, playfulness, and what appears to be genuine mischief.
Recognition of Sentience
In 2021, the UK formally recognised octopuses as sentient beings under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, acknowledging their capacity to experience pain, distress, and pleasure. This landmark decision was based on comprehensive scientific evidence reviewed by the London School of Economics. The UK isn’t alone, the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, and several Australian states have also granted legal recognition of cephalopod sentience, implementing welfare protections for these remarkable creatures.
What Can We Learn:
Flexibility and distributed intelligence create personal resilience. When you trust different aspects of yourself, your intuition, your analytical mind, your creative impulses to work independently and in harmony, you become more adaptable and innovative. Sometimes your greatest breakthroughs come from squeezing through openings others dismiss as impossible. Like the octopus, your strength lies not in rigidity, but in your ability to reshape yourself to meet each unique challenge.
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