New research has shown that octopuses all come form the same common ancestor, a shallow water octopus that lived in the Southern ocean. Its closest living relative is the Megaleledone setebos which can be found in the oceans in the Antarctica.
Scientists claim that octopuses evolved after nutrient-rich and salty currents drove them from the southern ocean to other ocean basins, nearly 30 million years ago.
The research is part of a 10 year global research programme to investigate more about oceans and how they've changed and the first Census of Marine Life (CoML) is due for completion in 2010.
The project hopes that as global warming is changing our oceans signifcantly, it is good to get a model of how our oceans have changed in order to help make a prediction for what the future will hold.
