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Octopus

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Octopus
octopus
Template:Regnum:Animalia
Template:Phylum:Mollusca
Template:Classis:Cephalopoda
Template:Ordo:Octopoda
Families
14 in two suborders, see text

The octopus is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda that inhabits many diverse regions of the ocean, especially coral reefs. The term may also refer to only those creatures in the genus Octopus. In the larger sense, there are 289 different octopus species, which is over one-third the total number of cephalopod species.

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.

Plural

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.

Classification


References