The octopus is generally acknowledged to be the
most intelligent invertebrate in the world: according to
marine biologists the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)
has a mental capacity comparable with that of a dog. If
you look at an octopus the octopus will look back at
you, and actually think about and remember what it is
seeing. Octopus relates both what is known and unknown
about the mind of an octopus, as well as detailing the
animal's remarkable natural history. It is thought to
have developed intelligence to compensate for the lack
of a shell, rather like human beings. That's where the
similarity ends, however - the octopus is short-lived,
with a lifespan of two years at most, and it mates only
once during its life. A wily creature with an extremely
sophisticated camouflage system, the octopus can change
the color of its skin to blend in with its surroundings;
should this fail it deploys clouds of ink to cover a
hasty retreat. And there is no more adept escape artist
than an octopus, which can squeeze its boneless body
through seemingly impossibly tight openings - as many an
unwary octopus keeper has discovered to their cost.
Octopus documents the long and multi-faceted
relationship between human and cephalopod. It shows how,
over the millennia, some people have considered
octopuses as nothing more than a tasty meal, and how
they are an important component of the modern global
fish and seafood industry. Other cultures regard them as
erotic totems, or symbols of the darkest evils. The
octopus has always fascinated people, and this book will
immerse readers in its amazing world.
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