News + Trends
Design with gaps: Why empty spaces are the trend
by Pia Seidel
Octopuses have favourite tasks for their arms
17.9.2025
Translation: machine translated
Octopuses have eight arms, which they could theoretically all use in the same way. However, they distribute the work among them quite cleverly, as underwater images show.
In principle, octopuses could use any of their eight arms for any task, but they favour some extremities for certain activities. A study in «Scientific Reports» shows which arms they prefer to use for locomotion and which for exploration.
A research team led by Chelsea Bennice from Florida Atlantic University has analysed 25 videos of wild octopuses taken in the Atlantic and Caribbean between 2007 and 2015. The experts documented how animals of the species Octopus vulgaris and the closely related species Octopus insularis and Octopus americanus performed twelve typical actions with their arms, including grasping, curling and lifting. They also observed four basic movements: Bending, lengthening, shortening and twisting.
All octopuses were able to move each of their eight arms in the four ways described and perform all twelve actions with each arm. However, they used the front four arms almost twice as often as the rear ones. They favoured exploring their surroundings with the front arms, while the rear arms were used more for locomotion. It was striking that certain movements were almost exclusively restricted to the rear arms, such as the «stilt», in which the arm lifts the body like a supporting pillar, or the «roll», in which the arm glides along under the body like a conveyor belt. The animals also skilfully coordinated their extremities: During the manoeuvres «moving rock» and «moving seaweed» it appeared as if stones and algae were drifting past them. In fact, they themselves moved inconspicuously over the ground, deceiving other animals.
The arms of octopuses consist of four separate muscle groups - transverse, longitudinal, oblique and ring-shaped muscles - which are arranged around a central nerve. They enable the extremities to perform a wide range of movements, such as hunting, locomotion or self-defence. According to the authors, the study is the first to show in detail how octopuses use certain arms for specific tasks. This combination of versatile use and specialisation illustrates their extraordinary adaptability, according to the researchers.
Spectrum of Science
We are a partner of Spektrum der Wissenschaft and want to make sound information more accessible to you. Follow Spektrum der Wissenschaft if you like the articles.
Original article on Spektrum.de
Header image: Chelsea Bennice, Florida Atlantic University (detail)
Spektrum der Wissenschaft
Wissenschaft aus erster Hand
dirdjaja@spektrum.deExperts from science and research report on the latest findings in their fields – competent, authentic and comprehensible.
News + Trends
From the latest iPhone to the return of 80s fashion. The editorial team will help you make sense of it all.
Show all
