NPR

Calling Team Cephalopod: Why Octopuses Could Never Disappoint

Evidence for smart, sassy octopus behavior once again impresses our resident cephalopod fan
An octopus at the Oceanopolis Sea Center, in Brest, France, is seen on March 6.

Barbara J. King is an anthropology professor emerita at the College of William and Mary. She often writes about the cognition, emotion and welfare of animals and about biological anthropology, human evolution and gender issues. Barbara's new book is Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat. You can keep up with her on Twitter @bjkingape.


Over the last few years, I've spent many hours on — and a morning — the smart, sassy behavior of

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