Octopuses are invertebrates, meaning they have no backbone. Octopus have the largest brain of all the invertebrates. Scientist have found that octopus can even be trained to do simply task, like opening a corked bottle to get to food. It has been estimated that octopus are as smart or even smarter than dogs. Octopus have the ability to change color at a whim. They can go from red to brown, from blue to green, from yellow to orange and even white. The octopus mouth is located underneath the head in the middle of the tentacles. Octopus have exactly eight tentacles and can range in size from several inches up to 12 feet (3.5 meters).

Predators

The octopus most dangerous predator is the moray eel. The octopus is also preyed on by sharks and some marine mammals. The octopus will try to escape these predators by changing color to blend in with the environment around them. If that doesn't work, they will shoot out a substance commonly called ink. The ink will temporary blind the octopus's predators, and in the case of the moray eel, who finds prey by smell, will misplace the octopus's smell and allow the octopus to escape. The octopus escapes by using jet propulsion. They shoot water out of their mouth which makes jet forward. If the octopus were to loose a tentacle in the battle, a new one would grow back to replace it.

Habitat

Octopus are found in every ocean of the world, in almost every depth. The large species of octopi are found mainly in the Arctic. Octopi live in small holes and crevices in rocks and coral. Because they have no backbone, they can squeeze themselves into spaces other animals can't reach.

Diet

Octopi, like all cephalopods, are carnivorous. They eat fish, lobsters, clams, and other invertebrates. They use their powerful parrot-like beak to crush the shells of clams and oysters. Once the shell is broken, they shoot poison into the shell, which digests the skin and organs of the prey. The octopus then sucks up the whole prey except for the shell.

Reproduction

After the female mates with the male she will seclude herself in her lair. She will lay up 45,000 eggs and put them on top of the roof of the enclosure. She will stay there, taking care of the eggs for one to two months, not leaving for any reason, not even to feed. She cleans the eggs by removing particles of derby and shooting squirts of water on them. After the eggs hatch hundreds of juvenile octopi will emerge from the enclosure. Soon after the eggs hatch, the mother octopus dies of starvation.