Eight arms, no bones, three hearts, one beak and a brain shaped like a doughnut: there’s nothing particularly “common” about the Common Octopus. And that’s not even the half of it.

Octopuses have an extensive nervous system, with over 500 million neurons, similar in number to that of a dog. But unlike any dogs we know of, two thirds of an octopus’s neurons are located in its arms. That means their arms can taste, touch and even act on their own accord with no input from the brain.

So, do they put their intelligence to good use? You bet they do. In captivity, common octopuses have been observed opening jars, solving puzzles, navigating obstacle courses and finding ways to escape their tanks.