How Does the Octopus Prevent Arm-to-Arm Interference?

Each of the eight long and flexible arms of the octopus is equipped with two rows of hundreds of suckers. This video from Nesher et al. shows that these suckers have a reflexive tendency to stick themselves to any object that they touch except octopus skin. The study shows that this self-recognition is mediated by chemicals in the skin that inhibit the suckers' attachment reflex. This mechanism simplifies motor control of the