Octopus – Classification, Morphology and Diagram

How many Hearts does an Octopus have?

An octopus has three hearts. Two of these hearts pump blood to the gills and the third one pumps blood from gill to the other parts of the body.

What Order does the Octopus Belong to?

The octopus belongs to the order Octopoda within the class Cephalopoda.

What is the Classification of Octopuses?

Octopuses are classified under the phylum Mollusca, class Cephalopoda, and order Octopoda.

Does Octopus have Teeth?

No, octopus do not have teeth. They have radula. It is a hard structure inside the mouth that helps in cutting and grinding.

What are the Morphological Characteristics of Octopus?

The morphological characteristics of octopuses include a soft body with a mantle, eight flexible arms with suckers, a bulbous head with large eyes, and chromatophores for camouflage.

Are Octopus Friendly to Humans?

Octopuses have not been reported to be very social or friendly with humans. However, they have been reported to exhibit conditional bonding like curiosity on seeing a human and acting playful, certain level of interactivity with their caretakers when fed.

What makes Octopus Special?

Well developed nervous system, intelligence, excellent problem solving ability, camouflaging, mimicry, and defense mechanisms make octopuses special.

Why is it called an Octopus?

It is called an octopus because it has eight long arms. In Greek “oktō,” means “eight,” and “pous,” means “foot” or “leg.” Thus, the word octopus means eight legs.



Octopus Diagram – Classification and Morphology

Octopuses belong to the class Cephalopoda, characterized by their soft bodies, eight arms, and distinct head. They lack a skeleton and possess a beak-like mouth, large eyes, and a highly developed nervous system. Octopuses possess remarkable camouflage abilities and can change colour and texture to blend with their surroundings. They are skilled predators, using their tentacles to capture prey and their beak-like mouths to consume it, often feeding on crustaceans, fish, and molluscs.

In this article, we will study the taxonomic classification of the octopus, its habitat, diagram, anatomy, and reproduction of an octopus, behaviour, and intelligence.

Table of Content

  • What is an Octopus?
  • Taxonomic Classification of Octopus
  • Where does an Octopus Live?
  • Diagram of an Octopus
  • Morphology Characteristics of Octopus
    • Head and Body
    • Arms
    • Suckers
    • Mantle and Fins
    • Skin and Coloration
    • Eyes
    • Beak and Mouthparts
  • Reproduction in Octopus
  • Behaviour and Intelligence
  • Some Interesting Facts About Octopus
  • Conclusion: Octopus – Classification, Morphology and Diagram

Similar Reads

What is an Octopus?

An octopus is a marine mollusk belonging to the class Cephalopoda, characterized by its soft, boneless body and eight long tentacles. Octopuses lack a skeleton and possess a beak-like mouth, large eyes, and highly developed nervous system. They are known for their remarkable camouflage abilities and skilled hunting techniques, using their arms to capture and manipulate prey. With complex brains capable of problem-solving and learning, octopuses are considered highly intelligent invertebrates....

Diagram of Octopus

Below is a labelled diagram of octopus:...

Taxonomic Classification of Octopus

Below is the taxonomic classification of an Octopus:...

Where does an Octopus Live?

Octopuses are highly adaptable and live in a variety of marine environments, ranging from shallow coastal waters to deep regions of the ocean. Factors such as food availability, the presence of predators, and suitable locations for reproduction and shelter influence their choice of habitat. Some examples include:...

Morphology Characteristics of Octopus

Octopuses have a bilaterally symmetrical soft body well adapted to ensure their survival in the complex marine habitat. Some key morphological feature of Octopuses are given below:...

Reproduction of Octopus

Reproduction in octopuses is a complex process involving distinct mating behaviors, reproductive anatomy, and life cycle stages....

Behaviour and Intelligence

Octopuses possess a highly developed nervous system with a centralised brain. They exhibit complex behaviours, problem-solving skills, and learning capabilities. For example, some of the species, like veined octopuses, can manipulate objects like coconut shells as portable shelters and arrange stones to create defence barriers....

Some Interesting Facts About Octopus

Some interesting facts about octopuses are listed below:...

Conclusion: Octopus – Classification, Morphology and Diagram

Octopuses are interesting eight armed cephalopods that are considered to be the most intelligent invertebrates. They inhabit a large variety of marine environment and exhibit remarkable adaptability. They reproduce only once in their life time and generally die after their eggs hatch. They are well known for their speed and vision which makes them good hunters. Octopuses have the remarkable color changing abilities which is used by them to camouflage, communicate, and even in expressing their emotions....

FAQs on Octopus – Classification, Morphology and Diagram

How many Hearts does an Octopus have?...