Overview

• Researchers observed a male Octopus vulgaris with a bifurcated limb that regenerated into two functional arms over five months in Ibiza waters.
• The bifurcated arms exhibited specialized functions, with one branch used for feeding and the other for exploratory behaviors.
• This discovery underscores the octopus's neural plasticity and adaptive behavior, offering insights into complex neuronal mechanisms.
• The study, conducted by IIM-CSIC and COBIEO-CSIC under the Ecosuma project, utilized in situ underwater video methods for naturalistic observation.
• Findings published in the journal *Animals* suggest potential applications in robotics, neurobiology, and regenerative medicine.