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If consciousness comes in degrees, then how far along on the spectrum is the octopus? Octopuses almost certainly feel pain. They nurse and protect injured body parts, and slow a preference not to be touched near wounds. In addition to feeling pain, octopuses also have sophisticated sensory capacities: excellent eyesight, and acute sensitivity to taste and smell. This, together with their large nervous systems and complex behavior makes it all but certain. The question of what subjective experience might be like for an octopus is complicated by the odd relationship between its brain and body.