I was walking down a street in the Campo de Fiore area of Rome when a t-shirt caught my eye. The t-shirt was worn by a tall sleeve-tattooed man with jeans and black boots and featured a six tentacled creature with a cat’s head and a title - Hexapuss.
Initially my intrigue was driven by the art itself. The general design of the Hexapuss on the t-shirt was reminiscent of tattoos themselves and added to the overall look of the wearer. But as I sat down with my Aperol spritz and did a little research I learned that there was much more to the character of Hexapuss itself…
The term hexapus (less one “s”) is not a specific scientific classification but rather a term often used to describe octopuses with six arms. The most well-known examples of hexapods can be seen in species like the octopus, particularly in cases where individuals have lost limbs due to predation or injury. However, there are also insights into the genetic and physical adaptations that can lead to a true hexapus condition, where an octopus can develop or be born with six arms. Due to the regenerative abilities of octopuses, instances of hexapods are not solely due to degradation or injury. They can also occur due to genetic mutations or developmental anomalies during the initial stages of growth. Despite these differences, hexapods ultimately stem from the intelligent and flexible anatomy characteristic of octopuses, making them a fascinating subject of study.
The octopus’s arms are lined with sensitive suckers that give them incredible control over their movements. They can manipulate objects, hunt, and defend themselves from predators with remarkable precision. The unique neural structure of octopuses also contributes to their intelligence. With most of their neurons residing in their arms rather than their brains, they can execute complex movements and tasks that require fine motor skills, showcasing a level of intelligence that rivals some mammals.
Hexapods challenge conventional understanding of limb functionality. Hexapods may experience a different method of locomotion or prey capture. Researchers studying these individuals find that their behavior can be drastically influenced by the atypical arrangement of their appendages. Some hexapods show compensatory behavior, utilizing their remaining limbs more efficiently, while others struggle with mobility.
Understanding how these creatures manage to thrive despite a reduction in limbs may yield insights into the resilience of species in the face of environmental changes or pathological conditions. For instance, studying the hunting techniques of hexapods compared to their octopus counterparts can illuminate the flexibility and ingenuity inherent within these animals.
Behaviorally, hexapods has been a subject of interest due to their differentiated locomotion and hunting strategies. In laboratory settings, researchers have observed that hexapods compensate for their lack of limbs through a variety of methods. They may adapt their hunting strategies, utilizing speed and surprise to capture prey, rather than relying on a methodical approach that involves multiple limbs working in concert.
I went from my deep dive into the characteristics of a hexapus into an intrigue about this character of Hexapuss and its intriguing cat head. We are all familiar with cats, sure, but what traits was I seeing here in the logo that might cross over with a regular hexapus of the octopus family? The glowing eyes and bared teeth of the cat-octopus hybrid definitely give off a menacing quality so I started with a few key words…predatory cats.
Predatory cats, which include both domestic cats and their wild relatives, are fascinating creatures that showcase the diversity and adaptability of feline species around the world. Members of the Felidae family, these carnivorous animals have evolved a range of characteristics, behaviors, and hunting strategies that make them some of the most skilled predators in the animal kingdom.
The domestic cat (Felis catus), believed to have been domesticated around 9,000 years ago, is an excellent example of a predatory cat that has adapted to life with humans while retaining its hunting instincts. They are generally solitary hunters and rely on their keen senses—particularly their sight and hearing—to locate prey. A domestic cat’s hunting behavior is often characterized by stalking, pouncing, and a swift killing bite.
A domestic cat’s predatory skills are a culmination of several physical and sensory adaptations. They possess sharp retractable claws that enable them to grasp and hold onto prey, making them adept hunters. Their descent from larger wild cats is evident in their muscular body structure, which provides the strength and agility necessary for catching moving targets. In addition, cats have keen senses—especially sight and hearing—that are finely tuned for hunting. A cat’s eyes have a high number of rod cells, enabling them to see well in low light, while their ears can rotate independently to capture sounds from different directions, making it easier to detect the faintest rustle of prey.
So throw a hexapus and a cat together and we get Hexapuss? It’s definitely an intriguing idea and I could see how the agility and tentacle control of the arms could mingle with the keen eyesight and teeth of the cat to create a fearsome character. But is that the case? Are appearances all that they seem to be?
Hexapuss (the character and brand) is the brainchild of Steve Hinan, a Canadian born developer now living in California. It is an immersive pinball virtual reality game, it is a metal music soundtrack, it is potentially a monster movie and there is merchandise – all featuring the character of Hexapuss. Much like the six limbed octopus found by British marine scientists in 2008, Hexapuss itself is highly unusual and, in this case, far away from its home in the sixth dimension.
This imaginative character embodies traits from both sea and land animals, often featuring a soft, flexible body similar to that of an octopus / hexapus, along with six distinct limbs that allow it to navigate various environments. The combination of its octopus-like adaptability and hexapod agility make it a fascinating character. Add to that the fierce feline head and distinct grimace and the overall dark heavy metal nature of the creature is apparent.
Given that the soundtrack of the brand is a compilation of divine songs that Hexapuss gifts to humans (all original metal music), the background of the Hexapuss logo is that of an LP album that represents gravity wave distortions. According to the creator, this represents the ripples in space-time, similar to audio ripples in the air.
Framing the entire image is a solid black hexagon. Hexagons being characterized by six straight sides (along with six interior and six exterior angles) along with six corners makes the direct relation to the character apparent. In this particular image the hexagon shape represents a wormhole into the sixth dimension that seems to be a main aspect of the game itself.
Overall, the image is one of the teeth-baring Hexapuss appearing from the sixth dimension wormhole by using the gravity wave distortions.
Even just a quick subsequent overview of the game then told me that no, that isn’t the case. That Hexapuss has actually mistakenly come through a wormhole and while it appears to be fearsome (and thus prompts the mere mortals to be afraid), the being itself is just as terrified and wants to go home.
At first blush the entire thing gave me both a fun deep dive into its character along with a bit of a glimpse into some of the main components of the game and various media surrounding it. Now I know a little bit more about who / what Hexapuss is… and I have also finished my Aperol Spritz. Time to keep exploring!
Do you want to buy some Hexapuss merchandise? You can find it here!