Why Do Squids And Octopuses Have Blue Blood? - Science ABC

The blood of octopuses and squids is blue because they use a different protein for oxygen transport than human beings do. This protein, hemocyanin, relies on copper to bind with oxygen, which causes the blood’s discoloration. Squids and octopuses have adapted to their environment by changing the hemocyanin concentration in their blood.

There aren’t many opportunities for human beings to interact with octopuses and squids, and most people are probably happy about that. These mysterious creatures of the deep are often depicted as sinister hunters of the deep in popular movies and literature, and their bizarre structure and behaviors do make it easy to fear them.

Between their tentacles and suction cup grips, as well as their sharp beaks (the only “bones” in their body, these odd creatures have fascinated people for centuries.

However, one of the strangest things for red-blooded humans to understand is the color of their blood. Why on Earth do octopuses and squids have blue blood?

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