Octopus seen carrying coconut shells like motorhome

William Atkins
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 18:25

Science - Biology

Australian-UK researchers have found that a veined octopus has tool-using abilities after seeing it carry coconut shell halves and, then, assembling the two halves into a shelter. This sophisticated behavior adds the octopus to the list of animals that use tools, a list that was once thought (by humans) only to include humans.


The researchers very interesting report is published in the December 14, 2009 issue of the journal Current Biology under the title “Defensive tool use in a coconut-carrying octopus.” [Current Biology, Volume 19, Issue 23, R1069-R1070, 15 December 2009, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.10.052]

The authors are Julian K. Finn (Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Australia), Tom Tregenza, (La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia), and Mark D. Norman (University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom).

According to the abstract of the group’s Current Biology article, “The use of tools has become a benchmark for cognitive sophistication. Originally regarded as a defining feature of our species [Homo sapiens], tool-use behaviours have subsequently been revealed in other primates an a growing spectrum of mammals and birds.”

The three researchers define a tool as "an object carried or maintained for future use.” According to that definition, the behavior of the veined octopus is the first documented case of tool use in invertebrates.

Thus, the group reports that these abilities have previously been seen only in vertebrates. However, now this discovery adds an invertebrate, the veined octopus, to the list of tool-use animals.

The veined octopus will intentionally carry one coconut shell half (or two halves) to a specific location where it will assemble the two into a protective shelter.

If they have only one half, the octopus will turn the coconut shell half over and hide underneath it. If they have two halves, then they will assemble the two halves into its original coconut form (as a ball-like structure) and hide inside it.

See the video of the octopus carrying the coconut shelf half in the YouTube video “Coconut-carrying octopus.”

Page two continues with additional information on this newly discovered abilities of the veined octopus.