Scientists have cracked the code on how octopuses coordinate their eight arms. Marine biologist Chelsea Bennice and her team spent years filming 25 wild octopuses in six different ocean habitats. They analyzed nearly 4,000 arm movements and found that while all eight arms can perform any movement, octopuses usually divide tasks among them. Front arms often explore or grab food, while back arms are more focused on movement. “We do this scientific research to discover more about the animal, how it moves in its environment, but also as inspiration for different fields,” says Bennice.
Using their data, the team created a “dictionary” of 12 arm actions that could help design robotics for search-and-rescue missions, medical tools, and more. Octopuses are nature’s ultimate multitaskers!