# See how octopuses squeeze through tiny spaces

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-06 12:20 UTC · Category: Science

## Executive Summary
Researchers discovered that common octopuses use a four-step process to squeeze through holes smaller than their eye gap, while Mexican four-eyed octopuses refuse to attempt such tight spaces.

## Intelligence Brief
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology has revealed the precise strategies octopuses use to navigate extremely narrow openings, with potential applications for search-and-rescue robotics. Lead author Wenci Xin, a mechanical engineer from the National University of Singapore, collaborated with coauthors from Italy and Austria, including biologist Tamar Gutnick of the Vienna Zoo, to conduct experiments at a public aquarium in Vienna.


The researchers tested three subadult common octopuses (Octopus vulgaris) collected by fishermen in France and four juvenile Mexican four-eyed octopuses (Octopus maya) raised from eggs in the lab. Each animal, roughly the size of an apple, was placed in an acrylic box with a clear partition containing a hole cut to specific dimensions relative to the distance between the octopus's eyes, which serves as a proxy for the rigid head capsule size.


When presented with a large hole, common octopuses employed a three-step process completed in about 20 seconds: first exploring with a single arm, then pushing three to five arms through, and finally anchoring with their suckers to pull the rest of their body through. For holes smaller than the eye gap, common octopuses adapted a four-step strategy: after the initial exploration and arm insertion, they "jimmied" their arms through individually before compressing their body cavity and internal organs to follow.


In contrast, Mexican four-eyed octopuses "rejected the small holes altogether, not even bothering to try to squeeze through them, instead sitting (sulking?) in the corner of the box," according to the study. However, they readily used the same three-step method for larger openings.


Gutnick noted the octopuses "appear to have a sense of their shifting size and shape and space." Xin is now working to translate these biological strategies into soft robotics for disaster response. Engineer Mishu Duduta of the University of Connecticut, who was not involved in the research, said the findings strengthen the case for pulling-based robot locomotion over pushing, and suggest a new paradigm for "delicate" robotic work in addition to dangerous, dull, or dirty tasks.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| NPR | How octopuses squeeze through teeny tiny holes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWEFVX3lxTFBPaUtZNHl6VTJKeXIwTE5FNVZ5R21wSzIzQUJWczRMcm5vamlXSm1ZVURIZS1NS2d2cTZ4eWpvRlZCTjNYWTVRMWhLT0NEaDdUTlozemNPWDQ?oc=5) |
| Smithsonian Magazine | Octopuses Are the Ultimate Escape Artists. Now Scientists Know How the Creatures Contort Themselves to Squeeze Through Tiny Holes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgJBVV95cUxOcG5tMEFtUlhqTlFSSzJzSXVHTTVlZGE0eURyb2NkbVdoSFZBNjZmblg1MGdRTXR1eXYybUVWT1FuU0lQeXlhd1ltT2JYdUZBOTNJNi1wWElhNFZJVW45eEJ1SERaUUsxcTJtcmw1VXBWek5rWnpFSnItY2tlbzcydUg5WEh5SlJadkNyeTdaRzJ0ZnhuejE5NTR1c2lkOUIxcXJsYVpWTnlsUEdYa0hlYjloNkpmZ3ZmYnpPdjNMcmQwUWEtMWtyWWJFNF85VnBjVGszR2ZyQlFkaUhRMEpSNlpabzlLSS0wX0dLVnlwd2pQRDAwaXByRU1WcGRqQkdKSjlTd1FBa2ZNSm8xRnc?oc=5) |
| Nautilus | Science Connected | How an Octopus Can Squeeze into a Beer Can | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTFBrcWc2aENRbTd3cmtkbkRTYzVkRFpENTRNUXk3VHl1ZUZRWEQ1UkpkV3lRR2hTemY4Q2R4MEhNUUNZMUduOGk4cmJKeS01dGdMMkwybndaY1dfY0E5eGdWVjg2aDNVSXgtb3ZWZnBSMlNGTnVqcEFj?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Explained: How octopuses squeeze through impossible gaps smaller than their bodies | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOWXlFT0UxV1hoZzM0UWV0RTFwQkl0MTB6R1NBaDVVd2xVc1M2NHVHdEtHdWMxeWd4Yjgza29kU01pZjFpWkpmMGxGelJtMk1GdGg0cmJ0dzN0TXUyYlkyWVFfeGE0b3dCMkxRWV9MT0lFQVNsS3F5STJEVzhUZXAwc0dYMEZ6SFBXMFIybjNSY2syZURfdHhLM1ZlN0J2OENkbHd0dg?oc=5) |
| The Detroit News | Octopuses follow two strategies to squeeze through tiny holes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxPQUdYZFVkeVJSaHVuZllFWDhmYV9JNW5pLWZyWE9CTnlNbUhuZEtXZ21vemFaTlFET1VPYnEwa3B3UHZBSV9kNlY0ZTdPMnk5M251SjlaMy1LRXZfYVhXN1ZoRmhEZEFMa3BfQUx2RVkxUzNGVDJzZS1sLXAyRldNaElTM1AyMFpyZFhMQjZYVVR6Rmppa0ZBRzNqWkNMRDdnb3BkUEVtTUFORUV0Y0RJV3plQ2FkckFlMWxudHhwLVhxS1ZGS1JDMw?oc=5) |
| NBC News | How octopuses squeeze through holes that seem impossibly tiny | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQQ2l1OGdOMXpKRHU0WVh1ZmU2cXJNUG02Nl9MNks1eXZndDhlTzROZUZLQ2Z3YWZ1WV9MMngxbGl6NjhSdFdtQWlUT01yUHp0ZUE4WDR5UExqX0xwek5tNmRaZHhmYnlwRm9JT0JMcC1PMjJUcUFGYlFFWkwtbVJfcXI3TGFWdW5ZYWdpMHNUQWNQNDA4WGc?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | How an Octopus Can Squeeze into a Beer Can | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxQRXJ0Y0IwajUwclREeWxnMXlJV1FrSk16RTFaa1IxUFVNR0NWUUNGbzNUdUdfOUo4V3BpbmMyZDJyNjZ3blA0d0dOcVFQa05lSS1KSkRwTkJUMjdfeE9FNEQ3ZFd5QUw2LVBxdE9LLUV1dm0yVUJUbHlVcTB4S0NyRlllZU9lQQ?oc=5) |
| ScienceAlert | Octopuses Can Squeeze Their Bodies Through Tiny Holes, And Scientists Are in Awe | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxPSXE0RnBTTlZidkZxNUgxdllqei1iWjRiUUxpcV9fUjhpTWVXd2F3clhnS2E2T3V6bU95Zk5SYy1oV0t4QXR2VlFxQllmX2dIZlNzYVVNa0FaVXVnclZXS0pPUU82d0V3bVhXQ3VWaktCdERUYnF2M2lqUV9IdU9scFg2LVFOc1pwNWx3NzJ4WmtoYTk2RGI2SmVsVnhLTGpTZEowYXl6amVrcVVO?oc=5) |
| Reuters | Octopuses follow two strategies to squeeze through tiny holes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQTkVrcE1BUUFVVGlwRnBZeVZvRU5temc3UTBndWR1MV80Ym5yWEM2NFk3ZGRJbTB3R19nQVhEZlpuNXN5UnZUMEhXMkNOMzlkRkNkdkY2ZFdwZG9UVjJZQnRmU05vc1VESFVldmRlQ1B0NmU2cGlqNUpPUkdNb3UtSExKeU9NeldZWDNhNEhQNEh0VnlIYWttTExIc3NvdEYzYTZVaQ?oc=5) |
| Popular Science | How do octopuses squeeze through tiny holes? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxPaFhoVzVCeXZWbHg3Zm9SdHRYM1NlYVNtYkQ3QWtTVDlCaHpqSmxPdjhJcGRIeDliVE5RYjZzemZ6UGpldVdvczU4c1lybUxuQnppSTJYRU5TLUFZMzhycWMyWFB5dnpPdjUtRjJTYWJnc0RBNktyVHdyQ1J2a2l0WGh0VVpzUQ?oc=5) |
| Around Prague | Octopuses Squeeze Through Holes Narrower Than Eye Gap, Study Finds | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxOZmhCVkNKdmRSVThXRmdVOVRvdnN2TVlhTGtuTzRJcjdyUXNRdEhoS0YwN1VGeDRSVHZ0ek84ZGEwc2c0eFNJOXZ6Y0hJN2x0bDJxbzF6VFR2N2oxTUdMOVNUWENmYWtLMW90MHRyT0g3aDZpdjE2VnRwYllCZnA1cFZpVm5URWEyMEhUaloxVkt3X0ZXNnRaMW1NYzQwamkxd2hfTjhGc3I?oc=5) |
| IFLScience | Almost Every Hole Is A Goal For Octopuses. Now Scientists Have Figured Out How They Manage To Squeeze Through The Impossible | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi3wFBVV95cUxQR0hER0daM2gtdDJfdXJoUHZjdG1URS1oUEpfd1R1VGhkU1RhV1JNRUF1OEphb3lnVWIxTlRreVYxTWktYWJ0S29aT3RaeVZDZzg1WE1RM3JxUkJGWmpid3pjYlpMQVJPdGs3VDZzLTJoZ2pfQ25YMEZRTXNqZXZZVC1MVWs2OFhjc24xMGxyVU9Md3EwSldhcmdwcXZiejljVjFGR3RrOUlMWGtNb3pWOWRTRnFBZHc3MUlyUlp1OWxLeGt3S0M1LTZRZm90aWZhOHVLUWhlUGJaZ0hYeGpN?oc=5) |
| Phys.org | How octopuses squeeze through too-small gaps | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZkFVX3lxTE0zOVZTZ1BzRmdqeUxEaE81S3JmTmJLWWtuY0ZjSHJmVEN0VFF2Tjc1czZmTE13aWtRejdXZERwaURzQUpKVms3Szd0dEpJSjJPaHBld3hiTlJoVHJwZzZxUHVDWWlEZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Octopuses Can Squeeze Their Bodies Through Tiny Holes, And Scientists Are in Awe | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxOSS1ObVpzMnBsc3hOcW8tUEpoeVdlb3k3OTJ3NHhPWmZtQkxXMzRldlpzMEFrSWtDWkxoS2xHdUFNa29BNmhJeEZDRkgtX21SM1g2T0NjVGhWVE4xTEVITHJIcUJyMFc3SDhobUpnWHBoUVhSbVhMTnNONFZqS0pob01ZcDktaGpRZktOUWQ2SnFTNE03Nk9kVW1n?oc=5) |
| Science News | How octopuses squeeze through tiny openings, step by step | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifEFVX3lxTE1tSVZKWkstZ3NmTEZGQjdXQ3NxMXVnc2NIamFUTDZPT3dEaFpDZF9tS2Y3alliTklHaHlEXzU4NnoxR1VDOVd0bHpvbUUyOEgtR1RueDhhNWxqYjVUOWxqSWFFc0ZwdlJ3RXZiUzhtWTRhdUp4eVpwTHhvM3I?oc=5) |

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