Octopuses have three hearts because two pump blood to the gills to oxygenate it, while the third distributes this oxygen throughout the body.
In octopuses, the circulatory system functions thanks to three distinct hearts. Firstly, there are two small branchial hearts located near the gills. Their job is to pump blood to the gills to oxygenate it. Then, the third heart comes into play, called the systemic heart, which is larger and sends the oxygenated blood all over the octopus's body. This original system is necessary because octopuses have thick, viscous blood containing hemocyanin, a blue protein that transports oxygen but requires a lot of energy to circulate. By the way, a little peculiarity: when an octopus swims, the systemic heart takes a break, forcing the animal to prefer walking along the bottom rather than prolonged swimming.
The three-heart system of octopuses dates back to evolutionary adaptations related to their active lifestyle and unique mode of movement. Their ancestors were mollusks with an external shell and a rather calm lifestyle, not really the sporty type. With the gradual loss of their shell, these animals gained mobility and had to develop good endurance to move quickly and efficiently underwater. This evolutionary pressure favored the emergence of multiple hearts to effectively supply oxygen to their active muscles and organs. Gradually, this sophisticated circulatory system was established, in which two branchial hearts send blood to the gills, and a main heart then pumps this oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Evolution sometimes favors strange but effective solutions.
Octopuses have adopted the efficient solution of three hearts to better manage their circulatory system in their marine environment. Two small hearts help pump blood to the gills, allowing for an efficient supply of oxygen, while the larger third heart takes care of sending oxygenated blood throughout the body. As a result, the muscles and organs of an octopus quickly receive the necessary oxygen, enabling it to have great endurance and a good ability to flee rapidly in case of danger. This organization also allows them to fully leverage their great intelligence by properly fueling their complex brain, which is very energy-hungry. In short, having three hearts is practical when living the fast-paced life of an octopus!
Fish generally have a single heart that pumps directly to the gills and then to the body. Squid and cuttlefish, relatives of octopuses, share with them this three-heart system adapted to their significant oxygen needs, particularly related to their intense muscular activity and active lifestyle. In contrast, crustaceans, such as crabs or lobsters, use a single heart combined with a simpler, often open circulatory system that operates without specific vessels to channel their blood, which is much less efficient but suited to their slow or moderate metabolism. Finally, in marine mammals such as dolphins or whales, there is a single powerful four-chambered heart, like ours, capable of efficiently sending oxygenated blood throughout the body during deep and prolonged dives.
Studying octopuses and their three hearts fascinates scientists because it opens surprising avenues in human medicine. Understanding how their circulatory system efficiently supplies their organs despite a very active life in extreme conditions could help treat certain cardiovascular diseases in humans. Additionally, their blood, rich in hemocyanin rather than hemoglobin, intrigues many for its special properties in oxygen transport. Observing their cardiac physiology also allows researchers to create innovative models in soft robotics, particularly robots capable of autonomous internal circulation inspired by octopuses.
Octopuses have blue blood due to hemocyanin, which carries oxygen, unlike our red hemoglobin. This copper-based pigment is more efficient in cold, low-oxygen water.
When they swim quickly, octopuses temporarily stop the activity of their main heart, which tires them out quickly. That’s why they prefer to crawl slowly along the seafloor rather than swim.
Octopuses are capable of regenerating their lost arms, a fascinating ability that sparks scientific interest in the possibilities of cellular regeneration in other species.
Each arm of the octopus has its own mini nervous system, giving it impressive movement autonomy! This allows them to explore their environment while managing other tasks.
Aside from octopuses, other cephalopods like squids and cuttlefish also have three hearts. However, having multiple hearts is still rare in the animal kingdom and mainly corresponds to an adaptation to specific needs related to their environment or physiology.
If one of the two branchial hearts temporarily stops functioning, the octopus can survive due to the redundancy of the system, but its ability to oxygenate its muscles and organs may be reduced. A failure of the systemic heart, on the other hand, is usually fatal.
Although we cannot confirm that octopuses experience exactly the same emotions as humans, scientific studies reveal that these animals exhibit complex behaviors, such as curiosity and problem-solving, and their highly developed nervous system suggests a certain emotional capacity.
Sure! Here is the translation: "Yes, but they serve different functions. Two branchial hearts pump blood to the gills for oxygenation, while the systemic heart is responsible for distributing oxygenated blood throughout the body."
Octopuses have blue blood because their blood contains hemocyanin, which is rich in copper, in contrast to our iron-based hemoglobin. This pigment allows for efficient oxygen transport, suited to cold and low-oxygen aquatic environments.
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