Well, the blue blood is because the protein, haemocyanin, which carries oxygen around the octopus's body, contains copper rather than iron like we have in our own haemoglobin. The copper-based protein is more efficient at transporting oxygen molecules in cold and low-oxygen conditions, so is ideal for life in the ocean. If the blood called haemolymph in invertebrates becomes deoxygenated - when the animal dies, for example - it loses its blue colour and turns clear instead.
An octopus's three hearts have slightly different roles. One heart circulates blood around the body, while the other two pump it past the gills, to pick up oxygen. Discover where the real world and the Wizarding World intertwine, and how the wonders of the natural world have inspired myths, legends and magical creatures for generations. Brimming with enthusiasm for the natural world, even Charles Darwin didn't always get it right. Curator Jon Ablett tells the tale of how an elusive monster from the deep came to be one of our popular attractions.
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By Lisa Hendry. More than one brain It's a well-known fact that octopuses have eight arms. Jon Ablett, curator of the Museum's cephalopod collection including octopuses , tells us more:. Seriously clever Scientists use the size of an animal's brain relative to its body as a rough guide to its intelligence, as it gives an indication of how much an animal is 'investing' in its brain. There are also intriguing anecdotes about octopuses' abilities and mischievous behaviour. They can use tools Tools use is relatively rare in the animal kingdom and is something we tend to associate with apes, monkeys, dolphins and some birds particularly crows and parrots.
Watch this behaviour in action and find out more from the team involved:. Ability to recognise people and pick on them! Unusual sexy time Many male octopuses lack external genitalia and instead use a modified arm, called a hectocotylus, to pass their sperm to the female.
Each species has a slightly different method, adds Jon. Self-sacrificing mums Life's not easy for octopus mums either. They literally give their lives for their young ones.
Cunning disguises and escape techniques Octopuses are probably the world's most skilled camouflage artists. Builder of cities With very few known exceptions, octopuses are generally antisocial creatures. Finally, why do octopuses have blue blood? Are you still wondering why octopus blood is blue and what the three hearts do? Oceans Molluscs What on Earth? Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth.
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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Why some animals have blue, green, or purple blood. Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: Why some animals have blue, green, or purple blood. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email.
Your blood is red. That's the case for most animals on Earth. This chart, made by chemistry teacher Andy Brunning at his blog Compound Interest , explains exactly why this variation occurs: Click to enlarge.
Compound Interest Our blood is red because of a protein called hemoglobin. That's not the case, however, for horseshoe crabs: Horseshoe crabs are bled in the PBS documentary Crash. PBS These arthropods' blood uses a different protein, called hemocyanin , to bind oxygen. A number of other marine species also have hemocyanin in their blood, and depending on the surrounding tissue, it can sometimes appear purplish, like in this red rock crab : A cut-open red rock crab.
Jerry Kirkhart Meanwhile, some marine worms such as peanut worms , have purple blood for a different reason: an oxygen-binding protein called hemerythrin.
The oxyhemoglobin molecule absorbs all colours of light but reflects red, thereby accounting for the red colour of blood. Unlike mammals, snails, spiders and octopi do not use hemoglobin to transport oxygen but rely on a related compound known as hemocyanin. This molecule, instead of having an atom of iron in its middle, has an atom of copper that binds oxygen.
Hemocyanin absorbs all colours except blue which it reflects, making their blood appear blue. So why do human veins appear blue from the outside? Since the white light that comes from the sun or out lightbulbs contains within it all colours of light, some colours penetrate our skin deeper than others.
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