Octopus, the most famous representatives of cephalopods – the body is short, soft, oval behind. The mouth opening is located at the point where its tentacles converge, and the anal opening opens under the mantle. The mantle resembles a wrinkled leather bag. The mouth of the octopus is equipped with two powerful jaws, similar to the beak of a parrot. There is a grater in the pharynx, which helps to grind food. The head bears eight long tentacles – “arms”.

In males, one tentacle is modified into a copulatory organ. “Hands” are interconnected by a thin membrane and equipped with suction cups. There are about 2000 of them on all eight tentacles of an adult octopus, each of which has a holding power of about 100 g. Each “hand” has up to 10 thousand taste buds that determine the edibility or inedibility of an object. The eyes are large, with a human-like lens. The pupil is rectangular. There is no rumor. The octopus breathes with gills, however, without damage to health, it can be out of the water for a short time. The brain is highly developed, has a rudimentary cortex. The octopus has three hearts: one (main) drives blue blood throughout the body, and the other two – gills – push blood through the gills.

The common octopus has the ability to change color to adapt to its environment. This is due to the presence in his skin of cells with various pigments, capable of stretching or contracting under the influence of impulses from the central nervous system, depending on the perception of the senses. The usual color is brown. If the octopus is scared, it turns white, if angry, it turns red.

On average, up to 90 cm in length (including tentacles), the maximum length for males is up to 1.3 m, for females – up to 1.2 m. It weighs from 4.5 to 7 kg, the maximum weight is 10 kg. Lifespan: Rarely exceeds 4 years, averaging 12-24 months.

It lives in all tropical, subtropical seas and oceans (with a salinity of at least 30%), from shallow water to a depth of 100-150 m. It prefers rocky coastal zones, looking for caves and crevices in the rocks. It is eaten by dolphins, sea lions, whales, seals, moray eels, eels, sharks, birds. The octopus itself is a predator, hunting while sitting in ambush. Eats mollusks, snails, crustaceans, fish, plankton. An ordinary octopus captures its prey with all eight tentacles, and bites the victim with its beak, holding it with suction cups. At the same time, salivary poison glands from the pharynx and mouth enters the wound.

Useful properties of octopus

Octopus meat is rich in protein and contains up to 8-10% fat. There are a lot of extractive substances in the muscles, which give a specific flavor to the octopus dish.

Octopus meat contains vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, E, K, PP. Octopus contains such macro- and microelements as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium.

Octopuses are very useful, as 100 grams of boiled octopus contains 350 mg. omega 3 fatty acids. And these acids, as you know, are involved in many metabolic processes, and we must receive them with food every day if we want to be healthy. Plus, octopuses are delicious.

The octopus has been known for its beneficial properties and pleasant taste since antiquity. Gourmets of the ancient world cut the tentacles of the octopus into pieces, stuffed the head with spices and baked into large pies. So virtuoso were their cooks that when preparing this dish, they used bamboo sticks instead of knives: after all, iron knives give a bad taste to a thin dish.

In the Mediterranean countries, octopuses are still one of the favorite folk treats. In Spanish and Italian cookbooks, you can find a lot of all kinds of recipes for cooking octopus at the table. In Spain, “calamares fritos”, that is, squid body rings baked in dough, are popular. “Calamares fritos” stuffed octopus can be bought in any store in Barcelona. At home, it remains only to warm them up.

On the island of Ischia (near Naples), squids are cut into slices and put into soup. It is also customary here to make sandwiches with octopus. Polynesians boil dried octopus in coconut milk or bake it in toro leaves in an earthen oven. In Japan, octopuses are usually fried in oil.

In the record holders for the presence of copper
Dangerous properties of the octopus

In the case of octopus, as with other seafood, it is worth refusing to use it in case of individual intolerance. If you notice that your body does not accept any seafood, then you should refuse octopus meat.