portlandaquarium

A giant pacific octopus has 280 suckers on each arm for a total of 2240 suckers.  

Each sucker has the ability not only to hold on to whatever it touches, but also to taste. This ability is called Chemotaxis, and it allows the octopus to hunt and find food in complete darkness. When an octopus touches you one of the things it’s doing is trying to figure out is whether or not you’re a potential food item. The fleshy circular pad inside each sucker regenerates regularly, and old pads are sloughed off. These may be seen floating in the water in the octopus’ exhibit from time to time.