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Revision as of 17:46, 29 March 2007 by 204.184.216.94 (talk) (→Physiology)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For other uses, see Octopus (disambiguation).

Octopus
The Common Octopus, Octopus vulgaris.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: Coleoidea
Superorder: Octopodiformes
Order: Octopoda
Leach, 1818
Suborders

†Pohlsepia (incertae sedis)
†Proteroctopus (incertae sedis)
†Palaeoctopus (incertae sedis)
Cirrina
Incirrina

Synonyms
  • Octopoida
    Leach, 1817

The octopus (Greek Template:Polytonic, 'eight-legs') is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda that inhabits many diverse regions of the ocean, especially coral reefs. The term may also refer to only those creatures in the genus Octopus. In the larger sense, there are 289 different octopus species, which is over one-third of the total number of known cephalopod species.

Physiology

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Terminology

According to various sources, there are up to three forms of the plural of octopus: octopuses, octopi and (rare) octopodes. Octopuses is the most common form, but Merriam-Webster and other dictionaries accept octopi as an alternative form. The Oxford English Dictionary lists octopuses, octopi, and octopodes in order of descending frequency of use. The term octopod (either plural octopods and octopodes can be found) is taken from the taxonomic order octopoda but has no classical equivalent. The collective form octopus is usually reserved for animals consumed for food.

Fowler's Modern English Usage states that "the only acceptable plural in English is octopuses", and that octopi is misconceived and octopodes pedantic. Octopi derives from the mistaken notion that octōpūs is a second declension Latin noun, which it is not. Rather, it is (Latinized) Greek, from oktṓpous Template:Polytonic, gender masculine, whose plural is oktṓpődes (Template:Polytonic). If the word were native to Latin, it would be octōpēs ('eight-foot') and the plural octōpedes, analogous to centipedes and mīllipedes, as the plural form of pēs ('foot') is pedes. In modern, informal Greek, it is called chtapódi Template:Polytonic, gender neuter, with plural form chtapódia Template:Polytonic.

Relationship to humans

Humans usually capture octopuses as food, however some are kept in captivity at public aquariums and in private establishments as pets.

As food

Octopuses at Tsukiji fish market

Many species of octopus are eaten as food by human cultures around the world. The arms and sometimes other parts of the body are prepared in various ways, often depending on the species being eaten.

Octopus is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine, including sushi, takoyaki, and Akashiyaki. Some small species are sometimes eaten alive as a novelty and health food (mostly in South Korea). Octopus is also a common food in Greece and south Italy. According to the USDA Nutrient Database (2007), cooked octopus contains approximately 139 calories per three ounce portion, and is a useful source of vitamin B3, B12, potassium, phosphorus, and selenium.

As pets

An octopus escaping an aquarium through a thin crack.

Though octopuses can be difficult to keep in captivity, some people keep them as pets. Octopuses often escape even from supposedly secure tanks, due to their intelligence, problem solving skills, mobility and lack of rigid structure. The variation in size and life span among octopus species makes it difficult to know how long a new specimen can naturally be expected to live. That is, a small octopus may be just born or may be an adult, depending on the species. By selecting a well-known species, such as the California Two-spot Octopus, one can choose a small octopus (around the size of a tennis ball) and be confident that it is young with a full life ahead of it.

Octopuses are also quite strong for their size. Octopuses kept as pets have been known to open the covers of their aquariums and survive for a time in the air in order to get to a nearby feeder tank and gorge themselves on the fish there. They have also been known to catch and kill some species of sharks.

Classification

A fisherman's catch of octopus dries in the sun

See also

References

  1. Octopus Calories And Nutrition
  2. Archived Google video of an octopus catching a shark, from The Octopus Show by Mike deGruy

External links

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