A Real Live sea Monster
It has eight long, rubbery legs and two huge, staring eyes. The octopus is so scary-looking to some people that it is sometimes called the devilfish. But octopuses rarely attack people. They use their strong arms, called tentacles, to catch shellfish and swim away from danger. Some kinds also have a poisonous bite.
There are about 50 kinds of octopuses. Most of them are about the size of a kitten. But some measure 8.5 metres from arm tip to arm tip.
The octopus is a mollusc. It has no bones, but a tough covering called a mantle protects its body and gives it shape. Rows of round muscles under each arm act as suction cups. These suckers can hold onto an object even if the octopus’s arm is cut off!
When an octopus is frightened it produces a cloud of inky liquid. The inky liquid makes it hard for an enemy to see or smell the octopus. That’s how the octopus gets away.