WATCH: Video taken in Maltese waters shows how octopuses sacrifice their limbs to escape predators
A creature with incredible resilience and adaptability.
A video shared by the Maltese free diver and underwater photographer, @malta_ginger_mermaid shows how remarkable the creatures in Maltese waters can be.
The footage shows an octopus who is clearly missing a limb, but this was not due to an unfortunate accident or attack but is instead done purposefully by the octopus.
Octopuses do this to escape their predators. When they purposely detach a limb, this distracts and confuses their predators and gives them enough time to run away.
Do not fret as they do not spend the rest of their lives without the tentacles they lose. An octopus has the ability to regenerate as it eventually grows new tentacles.
Have you ever spotted an octopus with missing tentacles?