No living creature can out-bend an octopus

Flex by JoAnna Wendel Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 Originally Published: Dec. 3, 2020

Octopuses have the most flexible arms in the natural world, according to a new paper in Scientific Reports . Shutterstock

Shutterstock A team of researchers filmed 10 octopuses over several months to capture more than 16,000 arm movements.

Shutterstock These movements were broken down into four categories.

All eight arms of the octopus can make these movements in any orientation — left, right, up, or down.

The octopuses examined could combine movements, such as twisting while elongating or bending.

Shutterstock Even the researchers, who are very familiar with octopuses already, were surprised at the animal's flexibility.

Shutterstock Learning more about the octopus's intricate motor control could inform the field of soft robotics, the researchers said .

Shutterstock Read more science and nature stories here .

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