American scientists from Harvard University and the University of California in San Digo have discovered that California octopus (Octopus Bimaculoides) can recognize harmful substances with the help of suction cup. The research published in Cell magazine shows that these cephalepad can identify damaged eggs and old foods, simply touching them.
Earlier, it was known that octopus used tentacles to search for food, even if it was hidden from the eyes. The new observations confirm that mothers check their eggs and throw away those who are no longer feasible. To understand the mechanism of this possibility, scientists have studied their suction cup under electronic microscopes.
It turns out that eggs cannot be covered with specific bacteria. The researchers have identified about 300 bacteria, often found on damaged eggs and tested their chemical compounds on octopus's artificial sensory cells. People only react with substances secreted by “bad” bacteria. The same microorganisms have been found on the crab's flesh, which is exposed to the decomposition.
Experts have concluded that suction cups containing receptors can obtain chemical decay signals. This allows them to quickly evaluate the quality of food and children without tasting them.