FAQ
A contribution of The Cephalopod Page
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Jim Marshall writes: First, I would like to compliment you on your Cephalopod Page. The wondrous things I find on the Net continue to amaze me, and your site is among the best. Thanks. Second, my question: I heard that octopodes have 5 brain lobes. This type of planar asymmetry doesn't make sense to me (2 eyes, 8 legs, etc.), but could it be true? I have been all over the Net and local libraries, but I can't get detailed info on the brains of octopodes, or cephalopods in general. I know from reading your Cephalopod Page FAQ that you are very busy and get a lot of email, so a 'Yes, 5 lobes' or 'No, not 5 lobes' would suffice. If you are so inclined, more info would be welcome, such as how many lobes, or whether it even has lobes at all. Thanks for your efforts on the Net, and your willingness to share information. I expect a lot of the people responsible for the meaningful content on the Net go unappreciated. I hope it's not too discouraging. Thanks again. |
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| Jim,
I'm glad that you enjoyed my page and thank you very much for the encouragement. Octopuses do have distinct lobes in their brains. This info is in Wells' book 'Octopus physiology and behavior of an advanced invertebrate' - someone has borrowed my copy. There should be more recent info on cephalopod nervous systems but Wells is a great place to start. Off hand they have two optic lobes, superior frontal, inferior frontal, posterior basal, pedal, branchial.... seems to be more than five then. A few more interesting facts: 1) their esophagus goes right through their brains! and 2) they have twice as many nerves in their bodies as they do in their brains 3) each sucker has ganglia! Dr. James Wood |