Veined octopus in a giant clam shell, Sulawesi Sea, Indonesia
© Alex Mustard/Minden Picture
Need some shell-ter?. World Octopus Day
What exactly are we looking at here? The veined octopus, also known as the coconut octopus, is one of the smartest animals on Earth, building shelters from seashells and coconut shells. If you peek inside, you may spot those telltale suction cups that cover the creature's eight limbs. These arms contain clusters of neurons, which make them particularly sensitive, and each arm can be used separately to perform complex tasks. Octopuses can also match the color—sometimes even the texture—of their environment, making them even more difficult to spot. There's lots more to learn about these fascinating animals, and World Octopus Day is a great day to do it. You could always start with the Academy Award-winning documentary 'My Octopus Teacher.'
Related Images
Cumulus clouds over the Caribbean
Aerial view of the cherry laurel maze in Glendurgan Garden, Cornwall, England
Green sea turtle with sardines near Playa Grandi, Curaçao
Manatees in the Ichetucknee River in Florida
Dr. Sylvia Earle explores Australia's Great Barrier Reef in a scene from 'Mission Blue'
Bioluminescent algae along the shores of the Matsu Islands off the coast of Taiwan
A fossilized carboniferous fern
A Brandt's cormorant hunts for a meal in a school of Pacific chub mackerel beneath an oil rig off the coast of Los Angeles, California
Bing Today Images
