Octopuses are fascinating creatures that have three hearts. Two of the hearts work to pump blood to the gills, where oxygen is absorbed from the water. The third heart pumps the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. This unique circulatory system is essential for supporting the octopus’s active lifestyle and helping it survive in its underwater environment. Since octopuses are highly mobile and rely on quick bursts of energy, having three hearts ensures that oxygen is efficiently delivered to the muscles when needed.
What Happens When an Octopus Swims
When an octopus swims, one of the hearts stops beating. This occurs because swimming requires significant energy, and when the octopus’s body moves in a certain way, the heart that pumps blood to the body temporarily ceases its function. As a result, swimming is often more tiring for octopuses than crawling, which they do using their arms. Despite this, octopuses are incredible swimmers, capable of making quick, fluid movements through the water, and they rely on this ability to escape predators and catch prey. Shutdown123