[jjtheblunt]

I think what you cited missed the spelling aberration, since the -pus is a mistake, as it should have been -pous,-podes (singular,plural, nominative). the word is just a chimera.

also, the reality is

#define octopi octopodes

#define octopuses octopodes

and so on is what's more or less going on...whereas in English octopodes is a mouthful.