Title: octopus humans last common ancestor 600 million years intelligence at DuckDuckGo

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## [The octopus within us: Cephalopods and humans share genes that began ...](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fgeneticliteracyproject.org%2F2025%2F05%2F01%2Fthe%2Doctopus%2Dwithin%2Dus%2Dcephalopods%2Dand%2Dhumans%2Dshare%2Dgenes%2Dthat%2Dbegan%2Dshaping%2Dintelligence%2Ddating%2Dback%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2F&rut=f4a529a3abf3ad2be2e957f8d5921e4f96d357d4c813045e0b21eb7fa1c08fdc)

[![Image 1](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/geneticliteracyproject.org.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fgeneticliteracyproject.org%2F2025%2F05%2F01%2Fthe%2Doctopus%2Dwithin%2Dus%2Dcephalopods%2Dand%2Dhumans%2Dshare%2Dgenes%2Dthat%2Dbegan%2Dshaping%2Dintelligence%2Ddating%2Dback%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2F&rut=f4a529a3abf3ad2be2e957f8d5921e4f96d357d4c813045e0b21eb7fa1c08fdc)[geneticliteracyproject.org/2025/05/01/the-octopus-within-us-cephalopods-and-humans-share-genes-that-began-shaping-intelligence-dating-back-518-million-years/](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fgeneticliteracyproject.org%2F2025%2F05%2F01%2Fthe%2Doctopus%2Dwithin%2Dus%2Dcephalopods%2Dand%2Dhumans%2Dshare%2Dgenes%2Dthat%2Dbegan%2Dshaping%2Dintelligence%2Ddating%2Dback%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2F&rut=f4a529a3abf3ad2be2e957f8d5921e4f96d357d4c813045e0b21eb7fa1c08fdc) 2025-05-01T00:00:00.0000000

[New research suggests that octopuses and **humans** may share an ancient evolutionary connection that helps explain the remarkable **intelligence** of cephalopods.](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fgeneticliteracyproject.org%2F2025%2F05%2F01%2Fthe%2Doctopus%2Dwithin%2Dus%2Dcephalopods%2Dand%2Dhumans%2Dshare%2Dgenes%2Dthat%2Dbegan%2Dshaping%2Dintelligence%2Ddating%2Dback%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2F&rut=f4a529a3abf3ad2be2e957f8d5921e4f96d357d4c813045e0b21eb7fa1c08fdc)

## [How octopuses evolved such complex brains | Popular Science](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popsci.com%2Fenvironment%2Foctopus%2Dbrain%2Devolution%2F&rut=d1f5e800b1684d54493801f59460649d519bb8c69e116ed110aa8c679dcbeca2)

[![Image 2](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/www.popsci.com.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popsci.com%2Fenvironment%2Foctopus%2Dbrain%2Devolution%2F&rut=d1f5e800b1684d54493801f59460649d519bb8c69e116ed110aa8c679dcbeca2)[www.popsci.com/environment/octopus-brain-evolution/](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popsci.com%2Fenvironment%2Foctopus%2Dbrain%2Devolution%2F&rut=d1f5e800b1684d54493801f59460649d519bb8c69e116ed110aa8c679dcbeca2)

[Environment Animals Wildlife What **human** and **octopus** brains have in **common****Humans** and the incredibly smart cephalopods share a **common****ancestor****600****million****years** back on the evolutionary tree.](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popsci.com%2Fenvironment%2Foctopus%2Dbrain%2Devolution%2F&rut=d1f5e800b1684d54493801f59460649d519bb8c69e116ed110aa8c679dcbeca2)

## [Octopus Intelligence Sheds Light on Evolution of Complex Brains](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.genengnews.com%2Ftopics%2Fomics%2Foctopus%2Dintelligence%2Dsheds%2Dlight%2Don%2Devolution%2Dof%2Dcomplex%2Dbrains%2F&rut=fd74bd09267ebcc3ba34e3da7da76c100cecdb84364179f59ba5d9664a9a9bab)

[![Image 3](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/www.genengnews.com.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.genengnews.com%2Ftopics%2Fomics%2Foctopus%2Dintelligence%2Dsheds%2Dlight%2Don%2Devolution%2Dof%2Dcomplex%2Dbrains%2F&rut=fd74bd09267ebcc3ba34e3da7da76c100cecdb84364179f59ba5d9664a9a9bab)[www.genengnews.com/topics/omics/octopus-intelligence-sheds-light-on-evolution-of-complex-brains/](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.genengnews.com%2Ftopics%2Fomics%2Foctopus%2Dintelligence%2Dsheds%2Dlight%2Don%2Devolution%2Dof%2Dcomplex%2Dbrains%2F&rut=fd74bd09267ebcc3ba34e3da7da76c100cecdb84364179f59ba5d9664a9a9bab)

[In fact, the most recent **common****ancestor** of octopuses and **humans** was a primitive flatworm that lived approximately 750 **million****years** ago. These genes were conserved during the evolution of the ...](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.genengnews.com%2Ftopics%2Fomics%2Foctopus%2Dintelligence%2Dsheds%2Dlight%2Don%2Devolution%2Dof%2Dcomplex%2Dbrains%2F&rut=fd74bd09267ebcc3ba34e3da7da76c100cecdb84364179f59ba5d9664a9a9bab)

## [What octopus and human brains have in common - Phys.org](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fphys.org%2Fnews%2F2022%2D11%2Doctopus%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dcommon.html&rut=3a35279a1c1183f1cb072d17fb81a7d37f9bd7e1966908343aaabb01c8c767dc)

[![Image 4](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/phys.org.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fphys.org%2Fnews%2F2022%2D11%2Doctopus%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dcommon.html&rut=3a35279a1c1183f1cb072d17fb81a7d37f9bd7e1966908343aaabb01c8c767dc)[phys.org/news/2022-11-octopus-human-brains-common.html](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fphys.org%2Fnews%2F2022%2D11%2Doctopus%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dcommon.html&rut=3a35279a1c1183f1cb072d17fb81a7d37f9bd7e1966908343aaabb01c8c767dc)

[If we go far enough back in evolutionary history, we encounter the **last** known **common****ancestor** of **humans** and cephalopods: a primitive wormlike animal with minimal **intelligence** and simple eyespots.](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fphys.org%2Fnews%2F2022%2D11%2Doctopus%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dcommon.html&rut=3a35279a1c1183f1cb072d17fb81a7d37f9bd7e1966908343aaabb01c8c767dc)

## [Do octopus brains work like humans' — or is there another way to be ...](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fneurograd.uchicago.edu%2Fnews%2Devents%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dbe%2Dsmart&rut=2759a58acd62c161b83539985a9083a23422a8f0e40164303c25c4d35525746e)

[![Image 5](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/neurograd.uchicago.edu.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fneurograd.uchicago.edu%2Fnews%2Devents%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dbe%2Dsmart&rut=2759a58acd62c161b83539985a9083a23422a8f0e40164303c25c4d35525746e)[neurograd.uchicago.edu/news-events/do-octopus-brains-work-humans-or-there-another-way-be-smart](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fneurograd.uchicago.edu%2Fnews%2Devents%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dbe%2Dsmart&rut=2759a58acd62c161b83539985a9083a23422a8f0e40164303c25c4d35525746e) 2026-04-30T00:00:00.0000000

[In many species, the sucker-covered arms can even regenerate. These invertebrates have evolved independently from the vertebrate lineage for more than **600****million****years**. Their **last****common****ancestor** was probably a worm-like creature with a rudimentary nervous system and eye-like patches of light-sensitive cells.](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fneurograd.uchicago.edu%2Fnews%2Devents%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dbe%2Dsmart&rut=2759a58acd62c161b83539985a9083a23422a8f0e40164303c25c4d35525746e)

## [Highly Intelligent: What Octopus and Human Brains Have in Common](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fscitechdaily.com%2Fhighly%2Dintelligent%2Dwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon%2F&rut=06a4a4556f1504178b59beab6c7542f0937a13dd02f35f710989455ce6806ce4)

[![Image 6](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/scitechdaily.com.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fscitechdaily.com%2Fhighly%2Dintelligent%2Dwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon%2F&rut=06a4a4556f1504178b59beab6c7542f0937a13dd02f35f710989455ce6806ce4)[scitechdaily.com/highly-intelligent-what-octopus-and-human-brains-have-in-common/](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fscitechdaily.com%2Fhighly%2Dintelligent%2Dwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon%2F&rut=06a4a4556f1504178b59beab6c7542f0937a13dd02f35f710989455ce6806ce4)

[If we go far enough back in evolutionary history, we encounter the **last** known **common****ancestor** of **humans** and cephalopods: a primitive wormlike animal with minimal **intelligence** and simple eyespots. Later, the animal kingdom can be divided into two groups of organisms - those with backbones and those without.](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fscitechdaily.com%2Fhighly%2Dintelligent%2Dwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon%2F&rut=06a4a4556f1504178b59beab6c7542f0937a13dd02f35f710989455ce6806ce4)

## [Do octopus brains work like humans'—or is there another way to be smart?](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dlike%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dis%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dto%2Dbe%2Dsmart%2F&rut=036753667f41b827ab343ee54b16680954f7663745ecc241b3750e54ca6a4662)

[![Image 7](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/www.scientificamerican.com.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dlike%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dis%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dto%2Dbe%2Dsmart%2F&rut=036753667f41b827ab343ee54b16680954f7663745ecc241b3750e54ca6a4662)[www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-octopus-brains-work-like-humans-or-is-there-another-way-to-be-smart/](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dlike%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dis%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dto%2Dbe%2Dsmart%2F&rut=036753667f41b827ab343ee54b16680954f7663745ecc241b3750e54ca6a4662) 2026-05-02T00:00:00.0000000

[These invertebrates have evolved independently from the vertebrate lineage for more than **600****million****years**. Their **last****common****ancestor** was probably a worm-like creature with a rudimentary nervous ...](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle%2Fdo%2Doctopus%2Dbrains%2Dwork%2Dlike%2Dhumans%2Dor%2Dis%2Dthere%2Danother%2Dway%2Dto%2Dbe%2Dsmart%2F&rut=036753667f41b827ab343ee54b16680954f7663745ecc241b3750e54ca6a4662)

## [What octopus and human brains have in common - bionity.com](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bionity.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F1178698%2Fwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon.html&rut=08d5da0145715b720fe1ee1d6947352191bc93a96cb68e88b43ade1fc3ae0cfd)

[![Image 8](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/www.bionity.com.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bionity.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F1178698%2Fwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon.html&rut=08d5da0145715b720fe1ee1d6947352191bc93a96cb68e88b43ade1fc3ae0cfd)[www.bionity.com/en/news/1178698/what-octopus-and-human-brains-have-in-common.html](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bionity.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F1178698%2Fwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon.html&rut=08d5da0145715b720fe1ee1d6947352191bc93a96cb68e88b43ade1fc3ae0cfd)

[If we go far enough back in evolutionary history, we encounter the **last** known **common****ancestor** of **humans** and cephalopods: a primitive wormlike animal with minimal **intelligence** and simple eyespots. Later, the animal kingdom can be divided into two groups of organisms - those with backbones and those without. While vertebrates, particularly primates and other mammals, went on to develop large ...](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bionity.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F1178698%2Fwhat%2Doctopus%2Dand%2Dhuman%2Dbrains%2Dhave%2Din%2Dcommon.html&rut=08d5da0145715b720fe1ee1d6947352191bc93a96cb68e88b43ade1fc3ae0cfd)

## [Humans and octopuses share ancestor that lived 518M years ago](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.com%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle%2D11470349%2FHumans%2Doctopuses%2Ddescended%2Danimal%2Dlived%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2Dago.html&rut=75e2272f5c73150ef5e0e5d15de19399744104688e215303f702126f6e2dabd1)

[![Image 9](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/ip3/www.dailymail.com.ico)](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.com%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle%2D11470349%2FHumans%2Doctopuses%2Ddescended%2Danimal%2Dlived%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2Dago.html&rut=75e2272f5c73150ef5e0e5d15de19399744104688e215303f702126f6e2dabd1)[www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-11470349/Humans-octopuses-descended-animal-lived-518-million-years-ago.html](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.com%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle%2D11470349%2FHumans%2Doctopuses%2Ddescended%2Danimal%2Dlived%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2Dago.html&rut=75e2272f5c73150ef5e0e5d15de19399744104688e215303f702126f6e2dabd1)

[Octopuses and **humans** descended from the same primitive worm-like animal that lived 518 **million****years** ago, and this could be why the eight-limbed creatures are highly intelligent. The creature, known as Facivermis yunnanicus, is the earliest known example of animals evolving to lose body parts it no longer needed and was minimally intelligent.](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.com%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle%2D11470349%2FHumans%2Doctopuses%2Ddescended%2Danimal%2Dlived%2D518%2Dmillion%2Dyears%2Dago.html&rut=75e2272f5c73150ef5e0e5d15de19399744104688e215303f702126f6e2dabd1)

## [The Octopus - by Darren Kaufman](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Freadsciphi.substack.com%2Fp%2Fthe%2Doctopus&rut=1935a577f69b857fc5fa0237419a3294958ff2d5508eff190fa7c9f55a417e44)

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[The aforementioned **last****common****ancestor** between **humans** and octopuses was a wormlike creature that lived on the ocean bottom about **600** to 650 **million****years** ago (long before the arrival of the dinosaurs), referred to as an Urbilaterian; "Ur" from the German word for "original" and "bilaterian" due its right and left sided symmetry. It was only a few millimeters long. The existence of ...](https://duckduckgo.com/l/?uddg=https%3A%2F%2Freadsciphi.substack.com%2Fp%2Fthe%2Doctopus&rut=1935a577f69b857fc5fa0237419a3294958ff2d5508eff190fa7c9f55a417e44)

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