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Octopus

Physiology and Behaviour of an Advanced Invertebrate

  • Book
  • © 1978

Overview

Authors:
  1. M. J. Wells

    1. Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages N2-xiv
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  2. Introduction

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 1-10

  3. An outline of the anatomy

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 11-23

  4. Respiration, circulation and excretion

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 24-62

  5. Feeding and digestion

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 63-81

  6. Reproduction and growth

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 82-110

  7. Endocrinology

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 111-140

  8. An inventory of the sense organs

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 141-177

  9. What an octopus sees

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 178-216

  10. Touch and the role of proprioception in learning

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 217-245

  11. Effectors and motor control

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 246-291

  12. Learning and brain lesions: 1

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 292-331

  13. Learning and brain lesions: 2

    • M. J. Wells
    Pages 332-368

  14. Back Matter

    Pages 369-417
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Keywords

About this book

between the organ systems of cephalopods and those of less ambitious molluscs. Octopus does, as we would predict, live close to the limits set by its own physiology. The circulation, to take one example, is barely adequate for such an active animal, mainly because of the absence of any system for pack­ aging the blood pigment; haemocyanin in solution is a poor oxygen carrier. Cephalopod blood can transport less than 5 millilitres of oxygen per 100 ml of blood (compared with about 15 vol% in fish) and the whole supercharged system of triple hearts, high blood pressure and pulsating blood vessels succeeds only in returning blood that retains less than 30% of its dissolved oxygen by the time it reaches the gills. This at rest; the effect of exercise is immediate and surprisingly long­ lasting even in octopuses as small as 300 g, which must very swiftly run into oxygen debt when they flee from predators or pursue their prey (Sections 3.2.2, 3.2.4). Digestion, too would seem to be limiting. As with other molluscs, digestion in Octopus is based on secretion­ absorption cycles by a massive diverticulum of the gut, an adequate system in a less hectic past, but scarcely appropriate in a predator that must be an opportunist in the matter of feeding. Octopus feeds mainly at night, and spends a great deal of every day sitting at home.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK

    M. J. Wells

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Octopus

  • Book Subtitle: Physiology and Behaviour of an Advanced Invertebrate

  • Authors: M. J. Wells

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2468-5

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: M. J. Wells 1978

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-017-2470-8Published: 20 November 2013

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-017-2468-5Published: 29 June 2013

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIV, 417

  • Number of Illustrations: 175 b/w illustrations, 11 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary

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