Octopuses hunt by ’tasting’ with their suckers

00:44 The unusual receptors that let octopuses hunt by touch

Researchers have shown that the suckers of octopuses are covered with specialised receptors that allow them to taste by touching things. Similar receptors are also found in squid, but there are differences that mirror differences in the animals’ hunting behaviours; while octopuses feel for their prey, squid pull things towards themselves before deciding whether or not to eat it.

Research article: Kang et al.

Research article: Allard et al.

Nature video: How octopuses taste with their arms

08:48 Research Highlights

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11:31 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, what climate scientists can learn from medieval descriptions of lunar eclipses; how to retrieve rock samples from the surface of Mars; and the ongoing debate about whether T. rex had lips.

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