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Neuroscientists are studying octopuses (pictured) and other cephalopods because of their intelligence and large brains. Credit: Media Drum World/Alamy

Three hearts; blue blood; no skeleton; arms like tongues. These are just some of the alien features of octopuses, squid and cuttlefish — members of the cephalopod family. The outlandish list continues. Cephalopod skin can taste chemicals, sense light and change colour and texture rapidly. In many species, the sucker-covered arms can even regenerate.

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