@CCC:
Hmm… have they done tests to see if octopi can recognize themselves in mirrors and think about the future? I wonder if those sorts of cognitive abilities are requisite landmarks on the intelligence scale, or if there are multiple scales, such that while octopi might never understand mirrors, they might exhibit an particular intelligence-based skill that dolphins never could.
In any case, takoyaki sure is tasty :D
I saw a show on the Discovery channel a little bit ago where they were testing if octopuses had a sense of self. They put an octopus in a cage with an opening just large enough to fit the space between their eyes out (apparently if they can fit that much then they can fit their entire body). It felt the hole for a little bit and then went out it. Next they did the same thing but with a hole not large enough to fit that space out. The octopus again felt the hole with its tentacles and DIDN'T TRY TO GO OUT. So apparently octopuses do have a sense of self which is unique among animals.