Tako, a giant Pacific octopus at OdySea Aquarium, died last month; she’d lived there for more than two years.

The aquarium’s director of animal care said on Facebook that Tako was "gentle, loving and unique,” and that she became an "'octopus teacher,' inspiring people everywhere to care about octopuses.'"

One person who didn’t need any convincing to care about them is Sy Montgomery, an author whose 2015 book, "The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness," was a finalist for the National Book Award. (And, by the way, she says octopuses is the correct plural form of octopus.)

The Show spoke with her about her work and how she got interested in octopuses.

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Sy Montgomery said she learned octopuses are emotional animals while researching her book.

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