Octopus: An Alien In Our Oceans?

HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND COMPLEX

While humans enjoy the benefit of one heart, octopuses possess three. Two are responsible for moving blood through the gills, while the central heart pumps blood to its organs. And if three hearts weren’t enough, the octopus has essentially nine nervous system centers!

In proportion to its body size, the octopus has one of the largest brains of the underwater world. However, 60 to 70 percent of the octopus’ neurons are not in its brain but are distributed amongst its arms! The brain itself is the center of executive functions and is involved in overall coordination, decision-making, memory and learning. However, because each of the eight arms can also act independently, the octopus is able to “delegate” solving a problem to one or more of its arms—say, opening a resistant clam—while it focuses its brain on other matters entirely, such as finding additional prey or looking for predators.

The organized and complex nervous system of the octopus makes it a remarkably intelligent creature. Octopuses have been observed playing with objects and seem to find a sort of satisfaction in solving puzzles and taking things apart, including child-proof pill bottles. They are capable of solving mazes and remembering solutions to apply later. Placed in a jar with the lid screwed shut, they are cable of unscrewing the lid from the inside to let themselves out. They have even been seen using simple tools. One species of octopus—the blanket octopus—has been observed collecting the stinging tentacles of Portuguese man-o-wars and using them like weapons!

A CREATION, NOT AN ALIEN

Are octopuses aliens to our planet? Certainly not. Many have noted that, as singular as octopuses may seem, they share the basics of their genetic chemistry and broad biological themes with the rest of life on earth. However “otherworldly” it may appear, the octopus is clearly a creature of our world, and not another.

Perhaps some of the scientists who authored the “alien octopus” paper will one day be inspired to rethink their hypothesis and consider a far more inspiring explanation. Rather than put off the design of the octopus to some hypothetical, faraway world, we should recognize that life has a Designer of vast intelligence—a Creator who seems to find great joy in filling His creation with diversity and variety. Let’s hope that these scientists come to see that the octopus and its collection of startling abilities and characteristics is a living tribute to the ingenuity and genius of that Designer and Creator—the God to whom their own lives bear witness, as well.

Article Appeared @https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2018/july-august/octopus-an-alien-in-our-oceans

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