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9Local politics, the county, and the world, as viewed by Tammy Maygra Tammy’s views are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bill Eagle, his pastor, Tammy’s neighbors, Wayne Mayo, Betsy Johnson, Brad Witt, Former President Trump, Henry Heimuller, Joe Biden, Pat Robertson, Ted Cruz, Joe Biden’s dogs, or Claudia Eagle’s Cats. This Tammy’s Take (with the exception of this disclaimer) is not paid for or written by, or even reviewed by anyone but Tammy and she refuses to be bullied by anyone. See Bill’s Standard Disclaimer
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The sucker cups on an octopus’ arms contain taste-sensing proteins that help the animal hunt in the dark and find prey hidden in cracks.
What do people, octopuses, squid and cuttlefish have in common?
What do People Octopuses, Squid and Cuttlefish have in common? They have Different Tastes. These creatures have proteins on suckers along their tentacles that allow them to taste by touching various things. The species have developed to detect different compounds. And the different tastes may be tied to the creatures hunting techniques. All the ocean species have improved versions of proteins called neurotransmitter receptors, which detect brain chemicals. Evolution converted the brain proteins to take on new roles as taste-sensing proteins. Octopus development has led them to develop a taste for greasy things, while squid and cuttlefish progression tweaked the brain proteins to detect bitter compounds. This is an entirely new sensory system for these creatures and has proven these creatures are not just a blob of slimy goo, but an advanced and intelligent learning creature. The study of these creatures are shedding light on how human eating, taste-sensing proteins evolved and has changed over time, as well as how proteins and even entire organisms acquire new functions, because of habitat and food availability. Barrel-shaped proteins known as chemotactile receptors in the suckers of California two-spot octopuses allow the animals to taste terpenes or greasy, insoluble molecules with their arms. Researchers found a surprisingly large molecule stuck in a special pocket in their suction cups used to detect certain chemicals. The receptors are not water soluble, the octopus receptors can detect a variety of greasy, sticky molecules that don’t dissolve in water. Because octopuses feel around for their prey, it’s logical that their taste receptors evolved to detect molecules that remain stuck to underwater surfaces such as crab shells or their own eggs, rather than small chemicals that easily diffuse in water. As these creatures feel their way around the ocean feeding they can basically smell and detect their food much like humans do. But octopuses don’t seem to find all greasy food tasty, and as humans do when they find food they don’t like the taste of, they simply walk away from it. Squid and cuttlefish can discern bitter compounds, researchers discovered that these cephalopod species also have modified neurotransmitter receptors in their suckers. But some of the squid and cuttlefish receptors detect bitter compounds which can diffuse in water, not the greasy ones octopuses taste. Bitter compounds also caused squid to turn up their noses, or their tentacles at prey. Squid given shrimp soaked in a bitter compound fingered the food longer before eating it than they did with regular food. Probably swallowing the food like we do if we don’t particularly like it by gulping it down. Or the squid rejected the bitter shrimp, something researchers never saw the animals do with regular prey. The type of receptors the species have reflect their hunting strategies. Octopuses explore everything with their arms. And likely use chemotactile receptors to guide their explorations, following the scent that is left. While octopuses use sight to catch prey out in the light of day, chemotactile receptors help them hunt in the dark and to find prey hidden in cracks and crevices. Squid and cuttlefish are ambush predators that rely on eyesight alone. The bitter receptors help squid decide whether to eat their prey only after they have it in their grasp, sorta taste testing with their arms before eating. The octopus and squid receptors evolved about 300 million years ago. But it’s impossible to tell whether hunting style or receptor type came first or if the traits evolved together over time. Either way these slimy creatures of the deep will be a studied for some time to come. The intelligence of the octopus has surprised scientists, the ability of these creatures to be able to problem solve only shows that there are many wonders of the world which we have yet discovered. All creatures which we share the earth and sea’s, should be valued and protected from our destructive and carless ways. We should place high value on even the lowest of creatures as they have a spot on this earth for a purpose, and as we have discovered from the octopus they are more complex than we thought. Maybe that’s why they have survived millions of years.
Tammy
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