To learn more about the animal I have chosen for this project, I decided to find videos online. The first video I stumbled across was a Ted-ed video titled, “Why the octopus brain is so extraordinary,” by Cláudio L. Guerra. It opened up by explaining how the octopus, biologically, is a completely different animal than us humans, yet it shares many cognitive abilities that make it one of the most intelligent creatures on the planet. They are capable of problem solving, learning through observation, and have the ability to use tools like us. One thing about this video that caught my attention was the overview of the biological structure of the octopus nervous system. Octopi have five hundred million neurons spread throughout their whole body, not just their brain, forming a network interconnected ‘ganglia’. The majority of these neurons are found in the tentacles, which for humans would be like if our hands and feet had their own separate brains. In other words, each one of an octopus’ eight arms can essentially think for itself. This gives the octopus crazy flexibility and limitless creativity when facing a new challenge.
In another Ted Talk given by Roger Hanlon, I learned a lot about the Octopus’ ability to camouflage and mimic other animals through the use of their twenty five million color organs in their skin called “chromatophores.” These are neurolly controlled and changed instantaneously. What makes the octopus an intelligent creature in regards to this, is its ability to sense and understand its surroundings, control its body quickly, and respond and adapt appropriately. I then watched several clips showing how octopi use their intelligence in their everyday lives. For example, escaping enclosures, tricking prey, hiding from predators, and even unlocking child-proof locks to get food. They are miraculous creatures that some believe are even products of alien life forms that originate beyond our planet.
Thesis: Animals are incredible creatures that share similar characteristics and levels of intelligence to human beings. They have the ability to problem solve, learn through observation, and use tools to help them survive. The intricate connection between humans and octopi in particular, sheds light on the convergent evolution of cognitive abilities between humans and animals, and how two vastly, biologically distinct species can actually be very similar.