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I for one welcome our new coconut-wielding octopus overlords...

Zulu Romeo

Zulu Romeo

World Famous Starship Captain
Admiral
Somehow, this science-related thread might have more joy in Misc., I think. :D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8408233.stm

Octopus snatches coconut and runs

An octopus and its coconut-carrying antics have surprised scientists.

Underwater footage reveals that the creatures scoop up halved coconut shells before scampering away with them so they can later use them as shelters.

Writing in the journal Current Biology, the team says it is the first example of tool use in octopuses.

One of the researchers, Dr Julian Finn from Australia's Museum Victoria, told BBC News: "I almost drowned laughing when I saw this the first time."

He added: "I could tell it was going to do something, but I didn't expect this - I didn't expect it would pick up the shell and run away with it."
Click to expand...

The video on that link is pretty hilarious, but fascinating all the same. (And, indeed, made the arachnophobe in me look twice...)

While this doesn't seem to be news to some, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the tool-wielding capabilities of the humble veined octopus. :)

It's only a matter of time before they graduate to spears, and doorhandles, and tactical nuclear weapons... :bolian:
 
I never knew octopi could be so cute! I loved the one that had two halves, sat in one, and pulled the other over his head. It was just so adorable. :adore:
 
I'm sure there's footage out there of the following.

A pet/fish shop was wondering who was stealing the fish out of a tanks. No bereak in or anything like that. So they set up a surveillance camera. They caught the octopus getting out of its tank, crossing the floor, getting in the other tanks, eating a few fish, then going back to its own tank. Pretty surprising.
 
^^ I've heard that story, too. The Octopus is a very intelligent animal. I love this clever use of coconut shells.

In the TV show The Future Is Wild (I think), they postulated an evolved, intelligent Octopus species that lived on land. Very cool. :cool:
 
Octopi are great. When I was learning to scuba, the instructors would show us octopus homes but I could never get enough bouyancy together to see them for myself! I love the footage of the octopus with his coconut shell mobile home. Cute as anything. :adore:
 
Great Mambo Chicken said:
All they need are enough coconut shells and the Octopus Theatre Company will be ready to stage Spamalot.
Click to expand...

So it's true. The coconut came to England not by swallow, but by octopus! :vulcan:

Now, one needs to work out the sea-floor velocity of an unladen octopus... you have to know these things when you're a King, you know. :bolian:
 
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