The Octopus that can open drink bottles

[David Morris]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10433426

Octi has come a long way since being pulled out of a rockpool - she
can now open bottles, using her tentacles.

The National Aquarium's eight-tentacled friend uses just two of them
to twist the lid off a bottle to get to her dinner.

It's a trick she honed with the help of her keepers at the Napier
aquarium, who noticed she was friendly and would latch on to them when
they put their hands in the tank.

She can now open the bottle in 2 1/2 minutes when there's a tempting
crab inside.

Octi was brought to the aquarium three months ago by a family who
found her in a Harding Road rock pool.

The octopus isn't on display, but lives in a tank out the back where
she spends most of her time hiding in a shell until a keeper comes to
play.

Opening bottles isn't the only trick. The octopus has also learned to
rise to the top of the tank, eye up the keeper and squirt water in his
face.

The aquarium's manager, Rob Yarrall, said Octi was the friendliest
octopus he had come across.