Animals & nature · 2022
Do wild octopuses sometimes seem to aim thrown material at other octopuses?
Yes—some throws appeared to target other octopuses in observations of wild Octopus tetricus at a site in Jervis Bay, Australia. Throws during interactions were more forceful and used fine sediment more often than throws in other contexts, but the observations do not establish deliberate aim.
Details
These octopuses propelled shells, fine sediment and algae through the water by releasing material from their arms while producing a strong jet of water beneath them. Throwing occurred in several contexts, not just during interactions with other octopuses.
During interactions, thrown material frequently hit another octopus. Compared with other throws, these throws were more vigorous and more often involved fine sediment rather than shells or algae. Some throws also took a different direction from beneath the arms, and those throws were more likely to hit another octopus. More vigorous throws were more often accompanied by uniform or dark body patterns.
Together, these observations suggest that some throws may have been targeted. They do not show that every throw was aimed at another octopus or establish the animals’ intentions. The findings concern Octopus tetricus at the observed site, not octopuses generally.
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