Did you know that the octopus is incredibly smart?
The cephalopod is capable of solving puzzles, opening jars, and even playing with toys.
So why are they so intelligent?
Let’s take a closer look at these eight-armed creatures!
Why The Octopus Is Smart
Science has discovered that the octopus brain is not only remarkably powerful; it also works very differently than it does in most other animals.
That may account for their extraordinary intelligence.
These mollusks seem to be able to learn more quickly than many other species (including humans).
And they can also remember things better too.
They might even be smarter than us!
But if you put an octopus brain next to a human one, ours would still be larger… even though our brains are really no more complex.
Octopuses have a long life span, usually between three to five years.
During that time, they live through many experiences across decades in human terms.
This may be part of the reason that octopuses are so smart; spending so much time observing their surroundings instead of just living in them for a little while as most other animals do.
Their broad range of vision also allows them to see in color, even using both eyes at once!
And they can learn new things by watching their relatives.
And it may also be a sign that they are bored or unhappy with their environment if they don’t have anything else to do… which happens not infrequently when you live in an aquarium tank!
It’s true that many of the behaviors observed in octopuses—especially those seen outside of laboratories—are anecdotally reported.
But there is some strong evidence for this animal’s smartness too.
What Can An Octopus Do
Octopuses can solve puzzles including mazes; open jars; use tools like coconut shells, and avoid predators.
One study showed that if an octopus watched another one open a jar, it could open it too without any help at all!
Their intelligence isn’t limited to learning about tools either; these creatures are also very curious.
They are constantly exploring to learn about their surroundings.
And octopuses are even known to engage in play.
This helps them hone fine motor skills, balance, and strength.
Many scientists think that these creatures are playing when they do these things because play is often associated with intelligence.
The octopus’s unusual nervous system also likely helps explain why it’s so intelligent; its decentralized brain lets its arms act on their own sometimes (which may explain the coconut-shell trick).
The octopus is an amazing animal that can unlock new levels of intelligence by exploring its environment and observing other creatures.
All this makes them one of the smartest animals in the ocean, but not quite as bright as their mammalian friends!
Check out our other animal FAQs here:
