Self-recognition mechanism between skin and suckers prevents octopus arms from interfering with each other.

Abstract in brief

• The octopus controls its many flexible arms by using specific movement patterns triggered by the brain, with each arm's suckers prone to sticking to nearby objects, which can cause interference.
• A selfrecognition mechanism involving chemicals in the skin prevents suckers from attaching to the octopus’s own skin, especially in amputated arms, helping to reduce interference between arms.
• Interestingly, octopuses can identify their own amputated arms and tend to treat arms belonging to other octopuses as food, indicating a novel peripheral recognition system that helps coordinate their complex movements.]