Researchers discover octopus movement patterns for squeezing through tight spaces

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology has revealed how octopuses use specific movement sequences to navigate through openings narrower than their own bodies. By observing common octopuses (Octopus vulgaris) and Mayan octopuses (Octopus maya), researchers identified two distinct strategies: a three-step and a four-step sequence.

When an opening is relatively wide, the octopus uses a three-step process: probing with one arm, sliding subsequent arms through, and using suction cups to brace and pull the rest of the body. In narrower spaces, the animal adopts a four-step strategy, passing its remaining arms through before compressing its head and mantle to follow.

Because octopuses lack a rigid skeleton and rely on muscular hydrostats, they can significantly deform their bodies. The researchers, including Wenci Xin from the National University of Singapore, noted that the size of the arms at the base of the body may play a more significant role in this maneuver than previously thought. These findings could potentially inform the development of flexible soft robotics designed for rescue operations or navigating confined environments.