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Why Octopuses Have Three Hearts & What It Means for Survival?

Their ability to move rapidly and adapt to different situations is further enhanced by their unique anatomy, making the 3-heart system a significant factor in their survival.

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Octopuses have 3 hearts, a unique feature that plays a vital role in their survival. 2 of these hearts are responsible for pumping blood to the gills, where the oxygen is absorbed. The third heart pumps oxygenated blood to the whole body. This miraculous circulatory system is crucial for supporting the octopus’s active & demanding lifestyle.

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One of the key reason octopuses have three hearts is their low-efficiency circulatory system. Their blood is copper-based which is called hemocyanin, which is less effective at transporting oxygen than the iron-based hemoglobin in humans. As a result, the heart that pumps blood to the body needs to work harder to compensate for its lower oxygen-carrying capacity. When the octopus swims, the heart that pumps to the body actually stops beating, which explains why octopuses prefer crawling over swimming—so that they can get exhausted quickly when swimming.

This powerful circulatory system allows octopuses to thrive in various marine environments, from the depths of the ocean to coral reefs. Their ability to move rapidly and adapt to different situations is further enhanced by their unique anatomy, making the 3-heart system a significant factor in their survival.

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