Mutated neuroreceptor lets octopuses taste with their arms

Octopuses hunt for prey in cracks and crevices along the seabed using ‘taste-by-touch‘ - the ability to detect chemical signals simply by touching them. Now researchers have identified the molecular makeup of a chemo-tactile receptor that makes this possible. In this film we explore the surprising origins of this receptor, and ask whether molecular evolution can explain octopuses’ unique behaviours. Read the papers: https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158... https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158... For more stories like these sign up for the Nature Briefing: An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, free in your inbox every weekday: https://go.nature.com/371OcVF