Pronunciation: [ˈɒktəpjˌuːsɪz] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "octopuses" has caused confusion for many English speakers. The reason for this is due to the word's origin being Greek, where it was spelled "oktopous." In English, the word is spelled with the plural suffix "-es," which is pronounced as /ɪz/. This explains why the final syllable is pronounced as "siz" and not "sus." Thus, the correct pronunciation of "octopuses" is /ɒkˈtɒpəsɪz/ (ahk-TAH-puh-siz).
Octopuses, in their plural form, refer to a class of soft-bodied, highly intelligent marine animals belonging to the order Octopoda. These fascinating creatures are widely known for their eight muscular arms, called tentacles, which are lined with tiny suction cups or suckers and display remarkable dexterity and flexibility. Octopuses typically inhabit a range of ocean environments, including coral reefs, sandy bottoms, and even the deep sea.
With a distinct bulbous head and large, complex eyes, octopuses possess an exceptional capability to camouflage themselves by changing their skin color and texture, allowing them to blend seamlessly with their surroundings. They predominantly rely on this adaptive defense mechanism to evade predators and capture prey. In addition to their camouflage abilities, octopuses have a highly developed nervous system and have been observed showcasing problem-solving skills and memory retention.
Octopuses are mainly solitary creatures and are known for their astute hunting techniques. They are skilled predators, equipped with a formidable beak-like mouth, which they use to dismantle their prey. Their diet consists of a variety of marine organisms, including crabs, small fish, and mollusks.
The reproduction process of octopuses is intriguing as males often die shortly after mating, while females lay numerous small eggs, which they attend to with great care. After hatching, the young octopuses, or octopuses larvae, undergo a pelagic phase, where they drift in the water column before settling back on the seabed.
Due to their remarkable adaptability, extraordinary behavior, and intriguing anatomy, octopuses have long fascinated scientists and are subjects of ongoing research to better understand their complex biology and intelligence.
The word "octopuses" is derived from the Greek word "oktṓpous" (ὀκτώπους), which is a compound of "oktṓ" (ὀκτώ) meaning "eight" and "poús" (πούς) meaning "foot". The word was adopted into English through the Greek plural form "oktṓpodes" (ὀκτώποδες), which later morphed into "octopuses" in the English language, following normal pluralization rules. The alternative plural form "octopi" is sometimes mistakenly used due to the assumption that the word has Latin origins. However, since the word actually originates from Greek, "octopuses" is the more accurate plural form.
