Is the octopus representative of what an intelligent extraterrestrial might be like?

Question

After all, octopi are quite alien. They have totally different respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and nervous systems. They are certainly very intelligent and must have a completely foreign way of thinking because of their physiological differences.

Answer 1

Hello =)

Yes, I have often thought that as well, but of all cephalopods, not just the octopus.

Their blood is copper-based, not iron-based like ours, and, yes, even though their lifespans are very short, in comparison to ours, they seem to possess a keen intelligence.

I often wondered that if they evolved to the point where their lifespans became very long, say, 100 years or so, would they not, actually develop some sort of technology, not unlike our own.

They are a fascinating animal, and it would not surprise me if, when we found another technologically advanced culture, that they were more similar to the octopus, than to a bipedal mammal.

It may come to pass, that after the age of the mammal has come to an end, that cephalopods may be the next dominant life form on earth....who really knows?? Of course, this depends on whether or not we kill them off before we are done, ourselves.

Namaste, and Happy New Year,

--Tom

Answer 2

Where is this talk coming from about the "intelligence" of cephalopods? Their "intelligence," if you want to call it that, is on the same order as that of other marine animals; that is, on a par with birds and amphibians.

I suppose alien life can take any form that works in the given environment, assuming such things exist. We will never know because we are limited to moving at a fraction of the speed of light, and the distances in the universe are very great.

But most people find the octopus repulsive, which may be why we think of them as "alien." Octopoid monsters have appeared in science fiction from the beginning of that genre because tentacles seem "creepy" to most people.

Extraterrestrial life forms are no more likely to resemble octopi than they are to resemble aardvarks.

Answer 3

An octopus is an animal with superior survival instincts it"s existence is based on DNA as we are.
An octopus has rudimentary communications protocol as other animals.
It cannot speak and does not possess the ability to be objective.
This characteristic is what sets man apart from other life on earth.

Answer 4

They might well be. They have the means to manipulate objects, which is a prerequisite to technological development.

Why should the aliens be like us?
In fact it is quite unlikely that life evolved in other planets in the same way as on Earth.

Answer 5

Well, maybe in a water world. But really the systems they have are very similar to other animals on earth. Their nervous system is quite similar to ours even.

Answer 6

They do look quite like aliens, but who ever said they were aliens? Of course, who ever said they werent? Seriously, anything or anyone could be an alien. We must be aliens to aliens, and aliens must be aliens to us. We must be aliens to poor dogs, who do grow to love us though, I believe :)

Answer 7

no
it would look stupid on a motorbike

Answer 8

yes it does loock like it dude this i my best answer