Ohio zoo's new octopus chooses her name: Cora

[June 26, 2012]  AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- A giant Pacific octopus that's the star attraction at an Ohio zoo's new reef exhibit has chosen her name by pulling shrimp from a labeled ball.

A list of 2,200 suggestions submitted to the Akron Zoo in a public naming contest was narrowed to three options Monday for the 20-pound, 4-foot-long octopus, and she chose Cora. It's a shortened version of coral, which is a popular octopus habitat and the theme of the exhibit.

The Akron Beacon Journal (http://bit.ly/LvJ404) reports the octopus made her decision by selecting the ball labeled Cora, pulling out shrimp, and then holding up the winning name with a tentacle as photographers captured the moment.

The most-submitted name suggestion had been Octavia. The other option, Scarlet, referred to the creature's reddish skin.

[Associated Press]

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