The Clever Octopus
We learn that octopuses are notorious escape artists. Rudy, the octopus in this video, is given four challenges – to escape from a metal cage. Each challenge is a little harder than the last one. Octopuses are actually the smartest invertebrates on the planet with the highest brain-to-body mass ratio. They have a staggering nine brains with a central brain that is wrapped around their esophagus (food pipe) and contains about 180 million neurons. They also have neurons in each of their eight arms which allows them to act autonomously – this allows their reactions to be super speedy. However, the central brain is still in overall control and can give commands to the rest of the body.
Expert Escape Artists
Rudy gives us a wonderful display of escape artistry at its finest! Level 1 is a door hidden behind some plants – Rudy achieves this in just 1 minute and 20 seconds. Level 2 is a narrow tube that it seems impossible for an octopus to tit through but he does! He uses the suckers on his arms to drag himself along very efficiently. Within 2 minutes and 21 seconds, he has made it out to freedom. In level 3, the difficulty level is hotting up! Now, clever Rudy has to negotiate a bridge with shallow water in it. Obviously, octopuses need to be in the water to survive so he will have to judge whether he can safely move in such shallow water. The decision is made – and Rudy starts his journey across the bridge. It takes just 3 minutes and 54 seconds for him to get across. The final challenge is mind-blowing. Rudy has to press a big red button to open a door and then has just 15 seconds to make it through before it shuts again. Amazingly, he works this out and takes just 6 minutes and 15 seconds to make it outside. However you feel about octopuses, you cannot help but admire the intelligence of this outstanding creature. Next up: Watch a Free Diver Catch Octopuses Barehanded as They Try Every Trick to Escape Watch a Mantis Shrimp Defeat an Octopus In Amazing Deep Sea Boxing Match Watch Octopuses Pull Off Impossibly Good Camouflage In Underwater Video
