Thanks for the information. Did not know that.

BTW—I once had octopus sashimi, as a matter of fact. GOOD!

JMonkey:

LOL.

For instance octopuses have been known to figure out how to unlock complex mechanisms, open jars, and learn how to perform other complicated tasks. They also exhibit behavior such as begging for food, which is a learned behavior. They will go to a specific place in the tank where they expect the food will be and give visual cues such as “pacing” back and forth, turning a bright red color, and so on. Octopuses can also be trained almost like a dog, even to do quite complex tasks.

Perhaps the most interesting demonstration of their mental capabilities is their ability to learn behaviors by watching others. There have been several experiments that have shown that octopuses can observe other octopuses perform a task and then learn how to do it merely through this observation. This takes a good amount of mental functioning.

This is all certainly not “genetic memory.” In fact, the level of cognitive functioning being exhibited by these creatures has led scientists to increasingly realize that these creatures have the largest brains among invertebrates for a reason.

Intelligent or not, I still enjoy a good plate of octopus sashimi on occassion.

Personally I have no trouble eating Octopus. That’s me, of course. What they do is called “genetic memory.” Just like a lot of what WE humans do is passed along through “genetics.”

Still a wonderful post and a great example of natural ingenuity.