The difference between octopus and squid lies mainly in arm shape and texture

Octopus and squid are both common seafood on the table, and they are also two cephalopods that many people easily confuse. Although they look somewhat similar, they differ clearly in the number of arms, appearance and living habits.

The most obvious difference is the number of arms. The octopus belongs to the order Octopoda and has only eight arms, so it is also called the eight-armed octopus; squid has ten arms, two of which are especially slender and usually tucked between the arms, only shooting out quickly to entangle prey when hunting.

In appearance, the octopus has a round, bulging head and a soft body with no hard structures inside, so it can squeeze into very narrow rock crevices to hide. The squid has a slender, cone-shaped body, a pair of triangular fins at the tail, and a translucent cartilage inside the body that is often picked out when eating.

In terms of habits, octopuses mostly crawl on the seabed, like to hide in reef caves, are good at changing color for camouflage, and are quite outstanding in intelligence among invertebrates. Squid, on the other hand, often live in groups in open seawater and propel themselves rapidly by jetting water backward.

The taste when eaten is also different. Octopus meat is firm and chewy, suitable for being braised whole, stir-fried quickly, or made into snacks; squid is crisp and tender, often cut into rings or strips and quickly stir-fried, and can also be dried into squid jerky, which is very suitable for making soup or congee. Remember these differences, and it will be easy to tell them apart the next time you choose seafood.