Octopus Scientists

With three hearts and blue blood, its gelatinous body unconstrained by jointed limbs or gravity, the octopus seems to be an alien, an inhabitant of another world. It's baggy, boneless body sprouts eight arms covered with thousands of suckers--suckers that can taste as well as feel. The octopus also has the powers of a superhero: it can shape-shift, change color, squirt ink, pour itself through the tiniest of openings, or jet away through the sea faster than a swimmer can follow.

But most intriguing of all, octopuses--classed as mollusks, like clams--are remarkably intelligent with quirky personalities. This book, an inquiry into the mind of an intelligent invertebrate, is also a foray into our own unexplored planet. These thinking, feeling creatures can help readers experience and understand our world (and perhaps even life itself) in a new way.

Join a real-life octopus team on a mission to understand one of the ocean's strangest minds and discover:

• Animal Intelligence: How an animal with three hearts, blue blood, and no bones developed a mind smart enough to solve puzzles and show a unique personality.
• Scientists in the Field: Follow a team of researchers in Moorea as they track, test, and try to understand these amazing animals in their natural habitat.
• Masters of Disguise: Uncover the secrets of skin that can change color, shape, and texture in less than a second for the ultimate deep-sea camouflage.
• Ocean Exploration: Dive into the vibrant world of coral reefs, the rainforests of the sea, and meet the incredible creatures who call them home.