He Octopus is an invertebrate cephalopod (which means head with legs) with 8 tentacles around the mouth.. Each of them has two rows of suction cups that allow it to capture its prey, move freely, cling to rocks or propel itself to swim.
Loose Octopuses have the ability to change their color and even the surface of the body to the characteristics of the environment to blend in and go unnoticed. This quirk is very useful for both hunting and avoiding capture.
Octopus tentacles
Octopuses are able to move their tentacles with impressive agility: bending and twisting with almost infinite possibilities. Researchers from the University of Chicago (US) shed light on how these arise cephalopods They achieve astonishing control over their eight arms. He study, published in Nature communication, reveals that the nervous system that controls the movement of his arms is segmented.
Scientists have discovered that the neuronal cell bodies in these limbs are organized into columns that form segments, similar to a corrugated pipe. These segments They are separated by spaces called septa, where the nerves are located and blood vessels leave the nearby muscles.
Movement control
This segmented structure gives octopuses precise control over their eight arms and hundreds of suction cups, allowing them to explore their environment, grasp objects, and capture prey with an incomparable skill in known nature. According to Clifton Ragsdale, professor of neurobiology at Chicago and lead author of the study, this configuration is ideal for controlling such dynamic movements.
Loose nerves Multiple segments are connected to different parts of the musclesindicating that the segments work together to control movement. This organization allows the octopus’ fluid communication between the segments, which promotes smooth movements and gives the octopus exceptional control over its limbs.
The team also studied calamaridiscovering that his tentacles gift a similar nerve structure in the sucking areas. This suggests that segmentation of the nervous system is a feature that evolved specifically in these cephalopods to perform worm-like movements.
Technological applications
This finding not only improves our understanding of octopus biology, but… It also sheds light on how evolution has shaped the nervous systems of these fascinating animals. for millions of years. The research opens new avenues for the study of complex biological control systems and could have applications in areas such as robotics and the neuroscience.