And thus passes one of the more charismatic cephalopods of our times . . .

The mollusc, named Paul, 'predicted' the outcome of all Germany's matches in South Africa, and Spain's win in the final, by picking a mussel out of a box displaying the victorious country's flag.

The Oberhausen Sea Life Centre said Paul the octopus appeared to have died of natural causes.

Let it be noted, however, that two-and-a-half years is a really good run for an octopus.