Five Cool Things About Octopuses

And yes, octopuses is correct. So is octopi. Anyway, there are lots of cool things about them. Here are just a few.

1. They're really smart

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For an animal related to brainless mollusks like clams, they are surprisingly clever. They can solve problems, unlock boxes and even thwart efforts to keep them in their tank. One octopus at the New England Aquarium got out of its tank one night, walked across a hallway and helped itself to fish in another tank.

2. They're uber flexible

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The only hard part of an octopus's bodies is its beak. This means they can squeeze their whole selves through any hole that's the size of their beak. Exhibit A: Truman stuffed himself into a plexiglass box (rather than unlocking it) to retrieve a crab.

3. Their suckers

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Their tentacles can taste and feel and give you hickies.

4. They're into camo

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Camouflage, that is. They can change color depending on their mood and surroundings.

5. And sometimes they're huge

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The giant Pacific octopus is usually considered the largest octopus out there. They can grow to be 20 feet from the tip of one arm to the tip of another outstretched arm