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Strange News from the Closest Planet

Octopus Opens Jam Jar in One Minute

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Moore the octopus has learned to unscrew a jam jar in just one minute. British researchers tested the agility of the much maligned ''sea devil'' and found that he soon learned to put his tentacles to good use prying tasty crab bait from a jam jar.

``It was an experiment to find out how clever they were, `` Brighton University biologist Tim Fullford said.

``We lowered a jam jar into his tank. We put a crab inside the jam jar. The first recorded time was 21 minutes. In three days, he got down to a minute,'' he told BBC Radio.

But Roger -- named after one of the actors playing the James Bond screen hero -- soon forgot his skills. ``His short term memory is excellent. But give him a break for a day or two and he completely forgets,'' Fullford said.