About the Octopus
General Information
The octopus shown in Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals is the red octopus. Its scientific name is Octopus rubescens.
Octopuses and Head Bumps
Do octopuses REALLY bump their heads?
FACT
Octopuses in captivity (such as an aquarium) sometimes bump their heads. They are extremely sensitive to light. Bright lights (such as camera flashes) can be especially disturbing causing an octopus to bump into parts of the exhibit, which can then cause skin damage. Often aquariums will put up signs to restrict flash photography at octopus exhibits.
According to Dr. Jennifer Mather, Ph.D., octopus expert, octopuses, in the wild, have not been observed getting bumps on their heads from hitting their heads. They can, however, change the texture of their skin and can GROW bumps–and then make them disappear in 1/5 of a second! And, an octopus’ skin on its head can get damaged by hard or sharp things in its environment.
FACTS
Octopuses can use their mantles (an extension of their head) to move very quickly. The mantle is like a big coat that can fill with water. The octopus can then push the water out with a large force, which causes it to move forward. It is like jet propulsion.
Symptoms
Octopuses who are injured do not have an appetite. They retreat to their den until they are healed.
Diagnosis
Diagnoses are made through observation. Veterinarians cannot do blood tests or X-rays of octopuses.
Treatments
According to Dr. Mather, nothing can be done to treat an octopus in the wild. Octopuses generally live for only one year or two so they have strong immune systems and are often able to quickly recover from minor injuries to the epidermis (skin) or mantle (the balloon-like part of the body) on their own. They are so good at healing that they can regrow their arms if necessary! Skin damage sometimes leads to infection in old animals because their immune systems are not as strong as when they were young.
In captivity, medications are rarely given to octopuses for two reasons: 1) not much is known about the kind and amount of medication that is appropriate, and 2) octopuses are usually able to heal on their own. Octopuses are extremely sensitive to chemicals and so, veterinarians are very cautious about giving antibiotics to senescent (elderly) octopuses. When medication is given, it is usually done by dissolving the medication in water and having the octopus stay in the water for a while. Octopuses have very thin skin and can absorb medications directly through it.
FICTION
In Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals, Rosie puts a compress on the bump on the octopus’s head to help it feel better. In reality, veterinarians typically do not treat octopuses, even in captivity, because they can quickly heal on their own. Also, a “bump” is typically caused by fluid buildup under the skin. An octopus’s skin is so thin that fluid does not build up under it. So, while an octopus can bump its mantle and injure its skin, a bump is not one of the symptoms.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OCTOPUSES
An Octopus Is Amazing (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2)
Inky the Octopus: The Official Story of One Brave Octopus’ Daring Escape (Includes Marine Biology Facts for Fun Early Learning!)
Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home
LEARN MORE ABOUT OCTOPUS SCIENTISTS
Dr. Jennifer Mather
Dr. Chelsea Bennice
REFERENCES/SOURCES
Animal Care Manuals/Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Mather, Jennifer, Ph.D. University of Lethbridge
Miller, R. E., & Fowler, M. E. (2015). Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine (8th ed., p. 392). Elsevier Saunders.
Image Credit: iStock.com/wademcmillan
