The outer space octopus theory

Hot Air ^ | 8:41 pm on May 16, 2018 | Jazz Shaw

[BenLurkin]

Another scientific study has been released offering the controversial claim that there’s a decent chance the octopus (and the rest of the cephalopods) arrived on Earth in the form of frozen eggs 250 million years ago and actually evolved on another world.

…

This wasn’t the first group to suggest it. In 2015 another research group reached a similar conclusion. The more you read into it, the less crazy it sounds. As we’ve studied the various animals on the planet in ever deeper detail, the octopus really doesn’t seem to fit in with everything else.

They’re an invertebrate, but they have 10,000 more protein-coding genes than a human being. They have problem-solving skills, they use tools and have been observed constructing a shelter out of things like broken coconut shells. (Not just using a shelter they find, the way crabs do, but actually building something.) And where did that instant camouflage ability come from? Their nervous system is almost entirely unique among animals.

And they just don’t look right. Most of the animals you see on the land, in the water or in the air follow a basic pattern. There’s a central body with four protruding limbs and a head of some sort. Even the animals like snakes that don’t appear to have legs have vestigial limbs inside. The insects made the switch to six legs but the basic layout is still the same. (Don’t get me started on the centipedes. They’re probably from another world also.) And then there are the cephalopods. Eight to ten limbs sticking out of a central mass with a huge brain, eyes with structures resembling a camera (like ours, actually) and a host of other differences.

[Salamander]

[Red Badger]

We, and everything you see, are made of stardust..........

[Tucker39]

My sentiments exactly. Thank you.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

And don’t forget Kang and Kodos from The Simpsons.

[Chode]

thank you...

[outofsalt]

All this and tasty in a balsamic vinaigrette tossed with fresh greens and a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

[silverleaf]

Bookmarks

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There was a theory that citiris came to earth to take over from humanity. Their plan failed since the lemons couldn’t speak the same language as oranges, etc...

[Alas Babylon!]

Hail Hydra!

[ealgeone]

The more you read into it, the less crazy it sounds.

******************

No....it sounds and is crazy.

[Tax-chick]

Giant squids are astonishing, too. Like bats, they reverse the usual positive correlation between size and longevity. Bats live much longer than most mammals, although they’re among the smallest, while immense squid live only a few years.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

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[NativeSon]

Wonderful creatures but definitely from our Earth. Study of the zoological sciences could help the writer understand the symmetry in body types and the relationship amongst groups.

The octopuses vs octopodes vs octopi - Greek vs Latin origin adds to the fun.

[T-Bone Texan]

I sat octopi. Is that wrong?

Because I also say penii, and that is definitely wrong.

[pabianice]

Europa Report

[Zionist Conspirator]

[Constitution Day]

And they just don’t look right.

Now that's some high-level scientific analysis.

[BenLurkin]

That’s quite a leap on your part.

[Jim Noble]

I've known this since The Crawling Eye was on Million Dollar Movie.

[NativeSon]

I am in no way, a spelling or grammer expert- this just stuck in my head after reading it a lifetime ago.

As octopus is a Greek word, the plural is made by adding "es", not "i".

Also, I have in the past, tried to convince a number of people that the plural of 'dolphin' is 'dolphi'...