Team Avatar encountered this species in the city of Omashu while navigating through a sewer pipe. When Sokka crawled out of the sewer pipe, he had several pentapuses clinging to his face. Upon removal, several spots were left over, and the team used it as an excuse for being around during the night, saying they were escorting their sick friend with pentapox, a fictional disease. The distinctive suction marks left by these animals were later used as a way to lead the citizens of Omashu outside the captured city's gates. The pentapuses' suction marks fooled the guards into believing that all the inhabitants were infected with pentapox.