What does Octopus Eat

Octopuses are soft-bodied, eight-limbed mollusks of the order Octopoda. The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids.

Octopus Facts

10 Curious Facts About Octopuses

• Octopuses are way old. …
• Octopuses have three hearts. …
• The plural of octopus is octopuses. …
• Aristotle thought octopuses were dumb. …
• Octopus arms have a mind of their own. …
• Octopus ink doesn’t just hide the animal. …
• Octopuses have blue blood.

What do octopuses eat?

Newly hatched octopuses will eat small foods such as copepods, larval crabs, and sea stars. Adult octopuses feed on crabs, clams, snails, small fishes, and even other octopuses. All species of octopus have venom of varying levels of toxicity, which they inject using a beak that is similar to a bird’s.

Though some can attack larger prey, like sharks. Octopuses typically drop down on their prey from above and, using powerful suctions that line their arms, pull the animal into their mouth.

Why does Octopus have 3 Hearts, 9 Brains, and Blue Blood?

Octopuses have 3 hearts because two pump blood to the gills and a larger heart circulates blood to the rest of the body.  

Octopuses have 9 brains because, in addition to the central brain, each of the 8 arms has a mini-brain that allows it to act independently. 

Octopuses have blue blood because they have adapted to cold, low-oxygen water by using hemocyanin, a copper-rich protein.

In short, octopuses eat crustaceans, mollusks, and fish which share their habitat. While not finicky, they can express favoritism for certain prey in times of abundance.

Now that you know all about the octopus’ dietary preferences, perhaps you would also like to know what eats the octopus.