The clip recorded by scientists showcases the intelligence of octopuses. They know how to use their tentacles to pick up shells, sand, and stones, transforming them into weapons to attack their opponents.
This unusual and fascinating behavior of octopuses was documented by oceanographers studying in Jervis Bay (located on the southern coast of New South Wales, Australia) and published in the journal PLOS One on November 9.
This is the first time scientists have observed octopuses “throwing” clumps of sand, pieces of algae, and shells at one another. They do not actually throw with their tentacles in the same way humans use their arms to throw objects. Instead, the tentacles hold onto the “weapons”, lift them high, and then use a burst of water to propel them toward their opponent.
This “ammunition-throwing” technique is employed by octopuses when fighting another octopus, defending against a predator, or even throwing at human research equipment when it approaches them.
Scientist David Scheel (from Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, USA), a member of the research team, stated: “They can throw projectiles several times their body length, although this is quite challenging to do underwater.”
This behavior has been observed in both male and female octopuses. However, when two females are fighting, there is a 66% chance they will throw objects at each other, about 32% occurs while the octopuses are cleaning their den, and a 53% chance happens when encountering an attacking fish.
Octopuses are known to be extremely intelligent creatures of the ocean
Oceanographers have even recorded instances where an octopus raises one tentacle towards an opponent and moves that tentacle in response to the opponent’s movements. At the same time, another tentacle picks up a shell and unexpectedly pushes it towards the opponent.
According to scientists, unlike humans, who often learn that throwing objects is not the best way to communicate, for other animals, such as chimpanzees and monkeys, directing objects at members of the same group can serve as an important social signal.
Octopuses are recognized for their high intelligence in the ocean and their ability to manipulate objects using their tentacles and suckers. For example, the species Amphioctopus marginatus is known to stack items and carry nesting materials.
In previous studies, octopuses were not considered social animals; they typically live alone, and when encountering other octopuses, they would fight or even eat each other. This indicates that such behavior should not be present in a solitary species like them.
However, in recent decades, there has been increasing evidence suggesting that octopus interactions resemble those of some other social species.
