Researchers observed common and Mayan octopuses passing through holes of different sizes, finding that the animals change their movement sequence based on the opening's width relative to their eye-to-eye distance.
Octopuses can squeeze through narrow slits and tiny holes, and researchers have now documented the step-by-step sequences they use to do so. The findings were published November 5 in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
Researchers observed three common octopuses (Octopus vulgaris) and four Mayan octopuses (Octopus maya). For each animal, the team measured the distance between its eyes as an indicator of the size of the most rigid cartilage around its brain. They then built acrylic boxes with holes slightly smaller or larger than that measurement and watched how the octopuses escaped.
Common octopuses used one of two strategies depending on the hole's size. When the hole was wider than the distance between their eyes, they pushed themselves through in three steps: first snaking one or two arms through, then threading a couple more arms through, and finally using the arms already on the other side to push against the box and yank their head and remaining arms through in one movement. The whole operation took a few seconds.
When the hole was narrower, common octopuses added a fourth step. They shoved all of their arms through the hole first and then squished their head and bulbous mantle through.
Mayan octopuses behaved more cautiously. When confronted with the narrower hole, they did not attempt to fit inside it and usually ignored it. This difference could stem from their biology or how they have adapted to their environments, according to Michael Kuba, a biologist at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. Mayan octopuses live in sandy, rocky areas, so while they might disappear under rocks, they do not often need to cram through holes, he says.
The researchers hope the findings will inspire new soft robots that can morph their shape to fit through tiny spaces. Wenci Xin, a robotics researcher at the National University of Singapore, said: "This incredible capability could enable robots to overcome environmental limitations and enter spaces that are difficult to reach."
Currently, robots built to fit through tiny holes tend to be snake-shaped, but further research on octopuses could unlock other configurations. Robyn Crook, an evolutionary biologist at San Francisco State University who was not involved in the research, said studying how octopuses navigate different types of holes may provide additional clues for robots, such as openings that are more like slits or tubes than holes.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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