Eight-legged intelligent life

A Giant Pacific Octopus, a species that can be viewed at the New England Aquarium, in Boston.

Adapted from Robert Whitcomb's "Digital Diary,'' in GoLocal24.com:

I  have  much enjoyed eating  grilled octopus. But after reading Sy Montgomery’s book The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of  Consciousness no more.

Ms. Montgomery,  after having done research at the New England Aquarium, in Boston, and elsewhere, convincingly describes the octopus as a very complex, intelligent and emotional creature and one that makes sensitive connections with humans. I think I’ll start confining my seafood consumption to clams, mussels and oysters.

In Octavia's arms at the N.E. Aquarium

Octavia the Octopus.

"When I would visit my octopus friend, Octavia, at the New England Aquarium, usually she would look me in the face, flow right over to see me, and flush red with emotion when she took my arms in hers. Often when I'd stroke her she'd turn white beneath my touch, the color of a relaxed octopus.''

-- Sy Montgomery, a writer about animals and author of The Soul of an Octopus (2015).

An intimate moment at the New England Aquarium

When I would visit my octopus friend, Octavia, at (the} New England Aquarium {in Boston}, usually she would look me in the face, flow right over to see me, and flush red with emotion when she took my arms in hers. Often when I'd stroke her she'd turn white beneath my touch, the color of a relaxed octopus.

-- Sy Montgomery