Alexandra Schnell, University of Cambridge; Andrew Crump, London School of Economics and Political Science, and Jonathan Birch, London School of Economics and Political Science
Octopus, crabs, prawns demonstrate clear signs of emotion, such as pain and ‘anxiety-like’ behaviour.
In the red corner is the octopus with eight muscular, hyper-flexible arms. In the blue corner is the bird with killer vision and two sharp claws for catching prey with incredible speed and precision.
Octopuses might be able to dream.
Shutterstock/Henner Damke
If octopuses simply started evolving a smarter brain, what stops them from ruling over humans? Why has this not happened already? An expert explains what these cephalopods might be capable of.
Some scientists say attributing ‘human-like’ qualities to animals is misleading. Others say it’s a great tool for conservation. Either way, the Netflix hit My Octopus Teacher has a positive message.
We recorded the largest number of bigfin squids ever seen in one area. Before this, this rather elongated creature had only been spotted a dozen times across the globe.
This squid belongs to one of the families (Histioteuthidae) that is highly diverse but was not previously recorded from the Kermadecs.
Richard Young
Kat Bolstad, Auckland University of Technology and Heather Braid, Auckland University of Technology
New squid research north of New Zealand nearly doubles the known cephalopod diversity in the Kermadec region, where a proposal to create one of the world’s largest marine reserves has stalled.
Hello little ones! Juvenile giant Australian cuttlefish developing under rocks in the waters of South Australia.
Fred Bavendam
In May-August each year, giant Australian cuttlefish gather and mate over a narrow stretch of rocky coastline in South Australia. At their peak you see literally one cuttlefish per square metre.
The myth of a monstrous giant squid prowling the oceans has persisted for centuries but scientists have been able to reveal the truth behind the stories.
The California two-spot octopus, Octopus bimaculoides, has distinctive blue ‘eye’ spots on either side of its head.
Roy Caldwell/UC Berkeley