Our old animal words thread has been locked so I am starting a new one.

I recently found this wonderful site about octopuses that explains that an octopus has haemocyanin-containing (copper-based) blood, rather than it being carbon-based. Further, they have 3 hearts and a jet propulsion system. Interesting creatures!

Haemocyanin blood uses copper in lieu of the iron on which hemoglobin is based (not in lieu of carbon).

Not to suggest that I knew this before pursuing the wonders of what can be found on google. I wonder how such completely distinct systems evolved.

Oh, Kalleh! I was going to correct you on the plural of octopus, as I have only ever heard octopi. But upon looking it up, I found, "octopus has two plurals: octopuses (pronounced AHK-tuh-pus-iz) and octopi (pronounced AHK-tuh-pei)." Is this a regional thing?

Funny, Morgan! My original post was "octopi", but the URL called the plural "octopuses" so I edited it.

For the U.S. spelling should it be "hemocyanin", instead of "haemocyanin"? It is "hemoglobin".

HW Fowler states in Modern English Usage that "the only acceptable plural in English is octopuses", and that "octopi is misconceived and octopodes pedantic."

Octopus was originally a Latin word. Most Latin words ending is -us form the plural by adding -i, but in fact the Latin plural of octopus was octopodes, hence Fowler's comments.

However, octopi has become so widely used most dictionaries accept it as an alternative plural to octopuses.

The cook adjusted his tie
He was upset and didn't know why
He lifted the lid
And perceived there a squid !
He'd meant to bake pure octopi

The Namers of Things were frantic
And facing a problem gigantic;
They'd dubbed octopodes
In all possible modes
But they knew octopodes was pedantic.

Guard dogs of the Animal Den
Were off duty, and sleeping, and then
Occurred an invasion
Of the Limerick persuasion
Who are lacking in Haemocyanin

quote:

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Originally posted by shufitz:
Haemocyanin blood uses copper in lieu of the _iron_ on which hemoglobin is based (not in lieu of carbon). ... I wonder how such completely distinct systems evolved.

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Octopuses (Hate the way that sounds) are the results of early not-entirely-successful breeding experiments between giant squids and Vulcans.

I used to have a Korean sister-in-law. She taught me how to cook a number of Korean dishes, but I had to go to the Korean supermarket to get ingredients. One afternoon I stopped by her house to drop off the kids so I could run up to the market by myself. She gave me a grocery list of things to pick up for her. As it was written in Korean, I just handed it to the owner when I go there and she filled Chong's order, while I picked up my items. Imagine my horror, when she packed the dried octopus next to my daikon! That was the last time I agreed to pick up food for her. ( I also never ate anything she prepared without asking what it was after that! )