Although you might not think it to look at them, octopuses have a similar number of neurons as dogs. 500 million neurons make up an average octopus. The majority of them—about two thirds—are in its arms.
The rest of the neurons are located in the octopus’s head, within its doughnut-shaped brain that surrounds the oesophagus.
What Makes Octopuses Smart?
Octopuses are very smart. They solve mazes to get food and then return home. They’re also great at escaping or getting into tight spaces.
In the animal kingdom, tool use is quite rare, commonly linked with apes, monkeys, dolphins, and parrots. Only a handful of invertebrates, such as insects and octopuses, have demonstrated this ability. They gather rocks and broken shells to use as tools, showcasing their learning potential.
Octopuses can recognize other members of their species and human faces. If you visit an aquarium and see the same octopus more than once, it will recognize you! They can even remember the faces of people they dislike.
How Many Brains Does An Octopus Have?
Octopuses have nine brains, each enabling central and local control of their actions. Did you know each of an octopus’s eight arms has its own ‘mini brain’? This setup allows them to manipulate their arms more quickly and effectively.
