Small but deadly Blue-ringed octopus (genus Hapalochlaena) (more) Do Octopuses Have Ink? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/Do-Octopuses-Have-Ink Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 2, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Yes, most octopuses possess an ink sac located near the anus that produces a dark fluid, which is forcibly ejected through a funnel organ. The fluid, or the ink, also contains mucus, most of which is likely produced from a gland in the funnel organ. The ink is dark because it has melanin, the same pigment that gives human hair and skin their color. The presence of melanin in the ink highlights the complex biochemical processes that occur within the octopus’s body. The ink sac is part of an octopus’s defense mechanism. When an octopus feels threatened, it ejects the ...(100 of 196 words)

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