Octopuses are incredible creatures. Very curious animals, they are famously known for their squishy bodies, eight arms and colour changing bodies.
Bill the Jungle Octopus is due for release on Thursday and we couldn’t be more excited!
Bill the Octopus lives a happy and carefree life with his friends in the ocean, until one day he is scooped up and taken on a jungle adventure where he does his best to avoid becoming lunch! A fantastic story for children and parents alike.
There is so much more to these fascinating animals. Here are a few things you may not know!
- Step aside Doctor Who, you’re not the only species with more than one heart now. Octopuses have not one, not two but three hearts! The first two solely work to move their blood through their gills and the third keeps the circulation flowing. Octopuses rarely swim, this is due to their main heart stopping when they do so. This is why you almost always see them crawling around rocks and sea beds.
- Octopuses can be poisonous. Almost all Octopuses have some kind of venom which sources from the bacteria living in them. Many don’t use their poison or do not have enough. Though some do… the Blue-Ringed Octopus is one of the deadliest animals in the world. They may only be the size of your hand. But one little bite can kill you. The average Blue-Ringed Octopus has enough venom to kill 26 humans. Their ink can also harm their enemies due to the tyrosinase, it has even been known to kill Octopuses that haven’t been able to escape their own ink cloud.
- They’re incredibly intelligent. Aristotle infamously called Octopus’ ‘stupid creatures’. That couldn't have been further from the truth. They have been known to be incredible problem solvers, they have even been watched opening child proof bottles. They’re one of the smartest non-primates in the world. They’re curious creatures that need stimulation just like us. Octopuses make use of tools and anything that may be laying around; such as hiding in shells or coconut husks – like hermit crabs!
- Octopuses have been around for a while. The first known fossil dates back to almost 300 million years ago – before the dinosaurs we know well came about! Even though they have been on this earth for a very long time, they don’t live long lives. They generally live for around 6-24 months’, males usually die a few months after mating and females just after their eggs hatch. The longest living octopus was a female Graneleone Boreopacifica, that guarded its eggs for a magnificent 4.5 years - this is the longest known brooding period of any animal on the planet.
