How octopuses use their arms

September 12, 2025

The Krake Octopus Americanus occurs off the Florida coast and is one of the species in which biologists have examined the arm movements. © Chelsea Bennice

The arms of octopuses are among the most flexible and versatile structures in the animal kingdom. Thanks to them, the squids can move in different terrain, feel their surroundings, catch prey and even communicate with each other. Now researchers have comprehensively cataloged the complex movement patterns based on observations of octopuses in the ocean. The results show: