Octopuses are soft-bodied, eight-limbed molluscs of the order Octopoda. The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids.

What is the symbolic meaning of an octopus?

In Christian art, the octopus symbolizes mystery, flexibility, fluidity, intelligence, adaptability, and unpredictability. It is a lunar creature affected by the tides and the waxing and waning of the moon. It dwells on the ever-changing bottom of the ocean and does not have a skeleton.

What does octopus literally mean?

The word Octopus itself literally means eight-feet (from Ancient Greek words “okto” meaning eight and “pus” meaning foot). In theory, there are approximately 300 species of octopuses.