Is an octopus right or left handed?
Well I suppose octopuses actually have 8 tentacles so the question should be: Do they have a favorite tentacle? That's the question that Marine Biologists from 23 Sea Life centers across Europe are hoping to answer.
An octopus in a German zoo has been trained to open a jar and it's believed that the octopus is highly intelligent and may be capable of even greater tasks. The goal of this study is to find out whether they have a favorite tentacle much like humans have a favorite hand. During the study, the octopuses will be given a selection of toys including jars, balls, Leggo, and Rubik's Cubes to see whether they prefer one limb over another.
The results of the study will be released in autumn and I'll post them here. Now if the octopus can solve the Rubik's Cube that will really be something.
Comments
Just curious, but what is the need scientifically to know this. Could these research $$$ be better spent elsewhere?
Who cares whether an octopus is right or left handed. I can’t believe you are wasting so much time and money on this study. Out of all the ways you could spend grant money you pick this. Do the people who give you grant money know what you are spending it on. Let the poor thing back into nature where it belongs.