| Revision as of 14:42, 10 March 2004 view source129.42.208.182 (talk) trivial grammer correction, more impressive vs previous more impressing← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:26, 10 April 2004 view source Chatool (talk | contribs)62 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| A note on the ]: ] states that "the only acceptable plural in English is ''octopuses''", and that ''octopi'' is misconceived and ''octopodes'' pedantic. ''Octopi'' derives from the mistaken notion that ''octopus'' is Latin. But it isn't; it is Greek, from ''oktopous''. If the word were Latin, it would be ''octoped'' and the plural ''octopedes'', analogous to ''centipedes'' and ''millipedes''. | A note on the ]: ] states that "the only acceptable plural in English is ''octopuses''", and that ''octopi'' is misconceived and ''octopodes'' pedantic. ''Octopi'' derives from the mistaken notion that ''octopus'' is Latin. But it isn't; it is Greek, from ''oktopous''. If the word were Latin, it would be ''octoped'' and the plural ''octopedes'', analogous to ''centipedes'' and ''millipedes''. | ||
| That said, Merriam-Webster now accepts ''octopi'' as a plural form. | That said, ] now accepts ''octopi'' as a plural form. | ||
| The collective form ''octopus'' is also used, but is usually reserved for animals consumed for food. | The collective form ''octopus'' is also used, but is usually reserved for animals consumed for food. | ||
Revision as of 16:26, 10 April 2004
Octopus  | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific Classification | ||||||||||||
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The octopus is a cephalopod that inhabits many diverse regions of the ocean, especially coral reefs. Octopuses are characterized by their eight arms, usually with sucker cups on them. They are highly intelligent, but have a very short life span. They have been known to learn to distinguish the difference between colors and shapes. More impressive is that they can remember the shapes and colors and their meanings for up to two years.
In some cultures, octopuses are caught for food.
Synonyms and common names
Octopus
Other members of Octopodidae are also called "octopuses".
A note on the plural: Fowler states that "the only acceptable plural in English is octopuses", and that octopi is misconceived and octopodes pedantic. Octopi derives from the mistaken notion that octopus is Latin. But it isn't; it is Greek, from oktopous. If the word were Latin, it would be octoped and the plural octopedes, analogous to centipedes and millipedes.
That said, Merriam-Webster now accepts octopi as a plural form. The collective form octopus is also used, but is usually reserved for animals consumed for food.
Children
- Subgenus Abdopus
- O. abaculus
- O. aculeatus
- O. capricornicus
- O. tonganus
- Subgenus Octopus
- O. adamsi
- O. aegina
- O. alatus
- O. alecto
- O. alpheus
- O. araneoides
- O. arborescens
- O. areolatus
- O. aspilosomatis
- O. australis
- O. balboai
- O. berrima
- O. bimaculatus
- O. bimaculoides
- O. bocki
- O. briareus
- O. brocki
- O. bunurong
- O. burryi
- O. californicus
- O. campbelli
- O. carolinensis
- O. chierchiae
- O. conispadiceus
- O. cyanea
- O. defilippi
- O. dierythraeus
- O. digueti
- O. exannulatus
- O. fangsiao etchuanus
- O. fangsiao typicus
- O. favonius
- O. filamentosus
- O. filosus
- O. fitchi
- O. fujitai
- O. gardineri
- O. gibbsi
- O. globosus
- O. graptus
- O. guangdongensis
- O. hardwickei
- O. hattai
- O. hongkongensis
- O. hubbsorum
- O. joubini
- O. kagoshimensis
- O. kaharoa
- O. kaurna
- O. lobensis
- O. longispadiceus
- O. luteus
- O. macropus
- O. maorum
- O. marginatus
- O. maya
- O. membranaceus
- O. mercatoris
- O. mernoo
- O. microphthalmus
- O. micropyrsus
- O. mimus
- O. minor minor
- O. minor pardalis
- O. minor typicus
- O. mototi
- O. mutilans
- O. nanhaiensis
- O. nanus
- O. neglectus
- O. niveus
- O. nocturnus
- O. occidentalis
- O. ochotensis
- O. oculifer
- O. oliveri
- O. ornatus
- O. oshimai
- O. ovulum
- O. pallidus
- O. parvus
- O. penicillifer
- O. pentherinus
- O. polyzenia
- O. prashadi
- O. pricei
- O. pumilus
- O. pyrum
- O. rapanui
- O. rex
- O. robsoni
- O. roosevelti
- O. rubescens
- O. salutii
- O. sanctaehelenae
- O. sasakii
- O. selene
- O. siamensis
- O. spinosus
- O. striolatus
- O. superciliosus
- O. taprobanensis
- O. tehuelchus
- O. tenebricus
- O. tetricus
- O. tsugarensis
- O. validus
- O. varunae
- O. veligero
- O. verrucosus
- O. vitiensis
- O. warringa
- O. winckworthi
- O. wolfi
- O. yendoi
- O. zonatus