Species: Octopus
The octopus has a closed circulatory system unlike other mollusks. This means that all their blood is transported in vessels. These vessels allow blood to be pumped to specific areas of the octopus rather than bathing their all their internal organs like the mussel and snail do. This is useful because the octopus has a large brain and therefore needs a lot of blood to allow for best function. Octopi have three hearts. Two of them obtain the oxygen ( like the lungs of humans) and are located near the gills, and the main heart that pumps blood throughout the rest of the body. Octopi use hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin. The hemocyanin, which has copper, causes their blood to be blue. This hemocyanin isn’t as effective as binding oxygen to the blood cells. Because of this, they use a lot of oxygen from their environment. If the water changes, it will affect the octopus’ ability to breathe. This lack of oxygen is probably why octopi, although very mobile, do not partake in any high energy activities.
The octopus has a closed circulatory system unlike other mollusks. This means that all their blood is transported in vessels. These vessels allow blood to be pumped to specific areas of the octopus rather than bathing their all their internal organs like the mussel and snail do. This is useful because the octopus has a large brain and therefore needs a lot of blood to allow for best function. Octopi have three hearts. Two of them obtain the oxygen ( like the lungs of humans) and are located near the gills, and the main heart that pumps blood throughout the rest of the body. Octopi use hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin. The hemocyanin, which has copper, causes their blood to be blue. This hemocyanin isn’t as effective as binding oxygen to the blood cells. Because of this, they use a lot of oxygen from their environment. If the water changes, it will affect the octopus’ ability to breathe. This lack of oxygen is probably why octopi, although very mobile, do not partake in any high energy activities.