Overview

• The peer‑reviewed study reanalyzed 25 clips of wild octopuses filmed in the Atlantic and Caribbean between 2007 and 2015.
• Octopuses used their anterior four arms in 64% of observed tasks, mostly for exploration, versus 36% for posterior arms, which supported locomotion.
• Distinct movement patterns such as rolling and the stelzen posture appeared predominantly in the rear arms.
• The analysis found no left–right preference, with both sides engaged roughly equally across behaviors.
• Robotics researchers say the quantified behaviors could inform flexible manipulators and soft medical tools, though real‑world applications remain in early development.