Aliens link to clever octopus
THE brain of an octopus is very similar to a human’s, shedding fresh light on its intelligence.
The creature descended from the same primitive worm-like animal as vertebrates, a study claims.
It has a complex nervous system which is thought to have developed in similar ways to humans.
Professor Nikolaus Rajewsky, a biologist at the Max Delbruck Centre in Berlin, said: “So, this is what connects us to the octopus.”
The findings are also interesting to alien hunters because octopae are regarded as the closest thing to how alien life may have evolved.
The sea creatures are renowned for being clever. They can use tools, carry coconut shells for shelter, stack rocks to protect their dens and use jellyfish tentacles for defence.
In captivity they can learn to solve puzzles, open screw-top jars, and squirt humans they do not like.
Recently they were even filmed throwing rocks and shells at each other.
They are also unique among invertebrates for having a central brain and a peripheral nervous system which can act independently.