<p><br /> Paul the octopus, who became an internet hit after correctly predicting a run of World Cup matches, has died.<br /> </p><p><br /> His owners say he appears to have passed away peacefully during the night, of natural causes.<br /> </p><p><br /> Stefan Porwoll, manager of the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre in Germany, said: "His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself."<br /> </p><p><br /> Paul - who was born in Weymouth - predicted the winners of all Germany's World Cup clashes, and then of the final by selecting one of two boxes, each loaded with a mussel food treat and marked on the outside with one of the teams.<br /> </p><p><br /> Staff at the centre said his death was not entirely unexpected, since common octopuses generally only live a couple of years.<br /> </p><p><br /> Paul will live on in the form of a range of commercial enterprises ranging from special clothing lines to mobile phone applications.<br /> </p><p><br /> He will also feature in a documentary to be released early next year.<br /> </p>
