Octopus: The 200 IQ Creature of the Sea

When thinking of intelligent life outside of the realm of human beings, what is the first animal that comes to mind? Monkeys? Dogs? Crows? Whatever you thought of, it was most likely not an octopus. Most people would rightfully assume that octopuses, like many other sea creatures are not smart and do not have complex brains, but these savvy cephalopods are far more than meets the eye.

                                                                                ▲Coconut octopus doing what it does best

First appearing 296 million years ago, octopuses have had millennia to evolve and adapt to the changing environment of the Earth. Over that time they have been able to develop into advanced creatures that don't nearly get the credit they deserve. With a total of over 500 million neurons, mostly in their arms, octopuses can truly experience the world and a have been shown to be able to solve simple puzzles, use coconuts as dens, and find novel ways of escaping captivity. In addition to their big brains, these ocean dwellers have powerful visual systems which add even more to their impressive skill set. With their unique U-shaped eyes, octopus are able to see a wide spectrum colors which researchers hypothesize could help them perfect the color manipulation techniques that many species use when hunting prey or hiding from predators.

                                                                                    ▲Blue-ringed octopus in all its glory
                                                                               
Although we have discovered them to be super smart, these magnificent creatures have been difficult to conduct research on as their intelligence comes with a price: stubbornness. Many spend their time in captivity trying to get out of their enclosure and others refuse to participate in exercises and experiments.

                                                                                                ▲Blue coconut octopus

Another difficulty that comes with working with most cephalopods of higher intelligence is their short life spans. Most octopus only live for a couple of years making it hard to test their learning and memory. While annoying, this awkward scenario poses an interesting question: What is the point of having a big brain if you don't have much time to put it to use?

                                                                                                 ▲ Common octopus

Some think that it may have to do with how advanced their bodies are with their millions of neurons and suction cup covered arms but there is no conclusive answer and more research and thinking has to be done to come up with a hypothesis for why these animals evolved this way. But even though we don't have an answer to why octopus are so complex, it is fascinating and thrilling to know that their is intelligent life in the vast waters of our planet that may be as smart as the pets we keep in our own homes.