Tool use in an invertebrate: The coconut-carrying octopus

[n2doc]

Scientists once thought of tool use as a defining feature of humans. That's until examples of tool use came in from other primates, along with birds and an array of other mammals. Now, a report in the December 14th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, adds an octopus to the growing list of tool users. The veined octopus under study manages a behavioral trick that the researchers call stilt walking. In it, the soft-bodied octopus spreads itself over stacked, upright coconut shell "bowls," makes its eight arms rigid, and raises the whole assembly to amble on eight "stilts" across the seafloor. The only benefit to the octopus's ungainly maneuver is to use the shells later as a shelter or lair, and that's what makes it wholly different from a hermit crab using the discarded shell of a snail.

"There is a fundamental difference between picking up a nearby object and putting it over your head as protection versus collecting, arranging, transporting (awkwardly), and assembling portable armor as required," said Mark Norman of the Museum Victoria in Australia.

Julian Finn, also of the Museum Victoria, said the initial discovery was completely serendipitous.

"While I have observed and videoed octopuses hiding in shells many times, I never expected to find an octopus that stacks multiple coconut shells and jogs across the seafloor carrying them," he said.

In recalling the first time that he saw this behavior, Finn added, "I could tell that the octopus, busy manipulating coconut shells, was up to something, but I never expected it would pick up the stacked shells and run away. It was an extremely comical sight—I have never laughed so hard underwater."

more:
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/12/14/tool.use.invertebrate.the.coconut.carrying.octopus

[WillParkinson]

1. Very cool!

I love stories like this.

[silverweb]

2. Octopuses are very smart!

I've been fascinated with videos and descriptions of them doing many complex tasks purely out of curiosity or in play. This newly discovered behavior is fascinating, but I'm not really all that surprised.

I think I still prefer my cats as pets, though... :P

[JonQ]

4. You know, I was going to correct you

(octopi, not in a snide way of course, jokingly), but I decided to look it up first and apparently "octopuses" is the currently preferred plural, even according to the oxford dictionary. So +1 to you, I learned something today.

[silverweb]

5. I got it from a previous article some time ago.

It was also confirmed in the OP.

When a professional who has been observing, recording, and writing about a creature for a long while spells it a particular way, I consider it best to assume that they know the proper spelling of the creature's name.

Bottom line: We both learned it from the experts!

[TheMadMonk]

8. The reason comes down to Greek and Latin roots.

I can never remember which is which, but one gets xxxxxi and the xxxxxes.

[JonQ]

12. Those crazy mediteranean languages

[JonQ]

3. I wonder why tool use is so rare

even with all these new discoveries it still is very unusual in the animal kingdom. It's such a great advantage that you'd think more animals would have picked up on it.

[silverweb]

7. Differences in evolutionary level?

Differences in native intelligence among species?

:shrug:

If by some miracle humans don't kill off most life on the planet, I'd be really curious to see how many species would differ in evolved skills between now and, say, half a million years from now.

[Liberal Veteran]

6. I saw Harry Reid using a gavel one time, so obviously invertebrates use tools now and again.

[zalinda]

9. So where's the video?

This would be a youtube sensation.

zalinda

[LynzM]

10. Just saw this video tonight!

Really neat stuff... I've seen the maze ones and things like that before, but never anything like this!

[pokerfan]

11. Found the video!

Coconut-carrying octopus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DoWdHOtlrk

[HuckleB]

13. I love this story!

[Vehl]

14. This is awesome! another nail on the creationist coffin too!

Its very interesting to see non-ape species using tools.(there were cases of ravens and some others using simple tools)
a good example of how intelligence is found amongst species the world over.

thank you for the post. + rec :)

[ConcernedCanuk]

15. imagine octopuses as computer wizards!

.
.
.

burn up a keyboard in no time!

:silly: