We here at the Museum are very saddened to share with you that one of our most beloved Animal Scholars has passed away…

Paul the Octopus, the world’s most famous actually-existing octopus, had died this morning at his home in Germany.

According to Wikipedia:

Paul the Octopus (reportedly hatched January 2008 – 26 October 2010^[1][2]) was a common octopus from Weymouth, England who lived in a tank at a Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany.^[3] Paul became internationally famous for correctly predicting the winner of Germany’s seven matches at the 2010 World Cup, as well as the final.

Because of the sensitive nature of this saddening death, Wikipedia has attached the following message to the top of his Wikipedia page:

Additionally, you can find Paul the Octopus listed under the Significant Deaths of 2010 wikipedia page.

The Daily What gives us a little more information on this shocking death:

”He appears to have passed away peacefully during the night, of natural causes, and we are consoled by the knowledge that he enjoyed a good life here,” Sea Life Centre manager Stefan Porwoll is quoted as saying.

“We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine.”

Goodbye to you, predictor of German soccer matches, prophet of the sports world, provider of excitement and fame and octopus-love.

You will truly be missed, especially in Brazil in 2014.