Natural History Museum - Which creature has eight arms, three hearts and blue blood?

Happy World Octopus Day! Octopuses keep surprising us They have blue blood, three hearts and a doughnut-shaped brain. But these aren't even the most unusual discoveries made about them! On World Octopus Day, dive in and discover eight fascinating facts about these underwater creatures. Find out more

Meet Charles Darwin's favourite octopus Get the scoop on the prime cephalopod that delighted Darwin as he sailed aboard HMS Beagle in 1932. Find out more   Explore the Museum's spirit collection From octopuses to an 8.62-metre-long squid, visit the Museum's fascinating zoology collection preserved in spirit. Book tickets How brainy is an octopus? It's a well-known fact that octopuses have eight arms. But did you know that each arm contains its own 'mini brain'? Museum curator Jon Ablett tells us more. Watch the video

Life in the Dark Japetella octopuses can quickly turn their see-through bodies dark red by using the colour organs in their skin, helping them to hide from the bioluminescent searchlights of predators. Can you find this octopus in the Life in the Dark exhibition? Book now

Exclusive behind-the-scenes tours Explore our extensive mammal collection in our off-site storage facility or discover more about the work of our scientists at talks and tours exclusively for Members. View all Member events