According to Steve Simpson, a professor of marine biology at the University of Bristol, “climate change is a likely driver” of the population boom. “We are right on the northern limit of the octopus species range, but our waters are getting warmer, so our little island of Great Britain is becoming increasingly favorable for octopus populations,” he said.

  • Ibuthyr@feddit.org
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    7 days ago

    Why bastardize a language? “Octopuses” makes my toenails curl up. It’s octopi.

      • Ibuthyr@feddit.org
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        6 days ago

        Now I’m just plain embarrassed. I use Octopoden in German. No idea why I thought it should be octopi… I may have it mixed up with one of our customers (octopi brewing Co). Thanks for the correction!

        • silence7@slrpnk.netOP
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          6 days ago

          English speakers do all kinds of weird things with the plural of ‘octopus’

          I think I’ve seen everything except octopussies

        • Hawke@lemmy.world
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          6 days ago

          Really any of those interpretations is just fine. Although I have my preference, I’m not gonna say anyone else is wrong.

      • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
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        6 days ago

        It’s Latinized Greek, and in English as a further bastardized loan word multiple plural forms are correct, including octopi, octopodes, and octopuses!

        I prefer octopussesi, personally.