Australian researchers have recently been able to use underwater photos to observe behaviors that are highly unusual in animals: common Sydney octopuses toss around mud, mussels and algae – apparently targeting conspecifics, as well as fish.
Scientists filmed this unusual behavior of the squid, scientifically called Octopus tetricus, underwater in a bay in the state of southeastern New South Wales. “Throwing to other individuals in the same population, as seen in these squids, is a rare form of non-human projectile use previously seen only in some social mammals,” the team writes in the journal PLOS One.
The video footage from Jervis Bay in New South Wales was dated 2015 and 2016. However, the team led by science philosopher Peter Godfrey-Smith of the University of Sydney has now identified only 102 cases in a group of about ten squid, in which individual specimens threw marine sediments.
Material is “thrown” with funnel organ
The common Sydney octopuses would have collected material such as silt or mussels and flung it, expelling the water at high speed through their tubular funnel organ. The funnel organ is used by squids for breathing and locomotion, among other things. “To perform the casts, the octopuses had to place their funnel organ in an unusual position, suggesting the behavior was intentional,” it said.
Although both sexes have been observed throwing, the proportion of women predominates (66 percent). The behavior occurs, among other things, when the males attempt to mate. The animals targeted by the “attacks” often crouched or raised one of their arms in defense.
Octopuses also throw away food scraps
“But we have yet to see an octopus that was hit by a pitch and then ‘fired back’ and threw back,” the scientists report. Considered the most intelligent of mollusks, the animals would also discard leftover food and other material to clean their shelter.
“Unusual Behavior in Animals”
“Throwing objects is an uncommon behavior in animals,” the study said. Directed casting is often considered “specifically human” and likely played an important role in evolution. So far, the behavior has also been observed in some species of monkeys (especially chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys) and elephants.
It is still unclear what social role this behavior plays in octopuses. Strangely, for example, other animals are rarely really hit by the nests — and some nests even went blank, the researchers said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
