World Octopus Day, every year on October 8! Let's all celebrate together, honor these interesting sea creatures!
As the name of the day suggests (World Octopus Day – World Octopus Day), World Octopus Day celebrates one of the most iconic creatures living on the planet today: the octopus. This eight-legged, beautiful and mysterious creature from under the sea has always fascinated scientists with its intelligence, mobility and adaptability.
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Octopuses are commendable for several reasons
First of all, they are one of the largest survivors on earth. Indeed, despite their relatively short lifespans, octopus fossils date back more than 300 million years, meaning they predate even the dinosaurs.
Perhaps one of the reasons these unique creatures have survived so long under the sea is that they are also believed to be highly intelligent. With around 500 million neurons in their brains and hands, they are able to override their instincts, learn and solve problems in a way that very many other sea creatures cannot. Some have even been creative by using discarded coconut shells and turning them into mobile homes. Resourceful!
Fun facts about the octopus
Surprise different friends or colleagues on World Octopus Day by sharing fun facts and trivia like:
The giant Pacific octopus is the largest and longest-lived species of this creature. It has been recorded to be able to grow to over 272 kg, although this is unusual. They are usually only about 20 to 30 kilograms.
In 2016, a 'ghost' octopus, Okeanos Explorer, was captured on video 14,000 feet (2.6 miles) under the sea. The octopus is a creature with an interesting circulatory system. They have three hearts and blue blood. One octopus is so intelligent that it can open a child-safe pill bottle to access the snack inside. That's more than some adults can do!
World Octopus Day is celebrated in October
International Octopus Day is celebrated on October 8. October was chosen for this celebration because in English the words "October" and "octopus" sound similar - "october" and "octopus". Both of these words come from the Latin word "octo" - eight. It should be noted here that October was the eighth month in the ancient Roman calendar.
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