Octopuses can pass through openings that appear too small for their bodies, relying on changes in body shape rather than a fixed size limit. One account describes their ability to squeeze through extremely tight gaps in a way that resembles water flowing through an opening, allowing them to move into spaces that would normally seem inaccessible.
In lab observations and analyses, sources describe step-by-step movements that help octopuses insert parts of their bodies through small holes, then bring the rest through as they adjust. The reported findings connect this biological flexibility to possible design ideas for soft robotics, including new “body plans” that could let machines adapt to constrained spaces.
Some coverage focuses on the general mechanism and biological versatility, while other coverage emphasizes the experimental, sequential nature of how the squeeze is carried out. One outlet frames the question more broadly, suggesting that factors such as head size may play a role in whether an individual can pass through a particular gap.
