Can octopuses taste with their arms?
An octopus has over 2,000 suckers that can 'taste' everything they touch.
Each sucker is packed with sensory cells called chemoreceptors. These allow the octopus to detect chemical signals in the water and on surfaces, effectively tasting its environment. This helps the octopus identify prey, like crabs hiding under rocks, just by touching them. These suckers are also incredibly strong and can move independently to perform complex tasks like opening jars.
Nerd Mode
An octopus possesses approximately 2,000 to 2,400 suckers distributed across its eight arms. Each individual sucker contains tens of thousands of specialized sensory receptors. These include mechanoreceptors for pressure and chemoreceptors for chemical detection. This unique biological setup allows the octopus to 'taste' its surroundings through tactile exploration.Research published in the journal 'Cell' in 2020 by scientists at Harvard University identified specific chemotactile receptors in octopus suckers. These receptors are evolutionarily adapted to detect molecules that do not dissolve well in water. This allows the octopus to distinguish between a rock and a prey item like a crab simply by tapping a surface. This 'touch-taste' system is vital for hunting in dark crevices where vision is limited.The octopus nervous system is highly decentralized, with about two-thirds of its neurons located in its arms rather than its brain. This means each arm can process sensory information and react to 'tastes' independently without waiting for instructions from the central brain. This incredible autonomy allows the octopus to multitask, such as searching for food with one arm while manipulating an object with another.
Verified Fact
FP-0002262 · Feb 16, 2026