Octopuses caught on camera throwing things at each other

By Gwyn Wright via SWNS

Octopuses have been caught on camera throwing debris at each other during underwater rows, reveals a new study.

The deep sea creatures were filmed for the first time throwing silt and shells at each other and around themselves.

Scientists made the discovery when they recorded the behavior of gloomy octopuses (Octopus tetricus) off the coast of Jervis Bay in New South Wales, Australia.

The animals were recorded using underwater video cameras in 2015 and 2016.

Researchers analyzed 24 hours of footage across several days and found 102 instances of debris throwing in a group of around 10 octopuses.

The creatures gathered materials such as silt or shells and released it while using a jet of water from their siphon, a tube-shaped structure that can eject water quickly, to propel it through their arms and through the water.

They often threw material several body lengths away.

To perform the throws, octopuses had to move their siphon into an unusual position, suggesting the behavior was on purpose.

Both sexes were observed throwing, but two thirds of throws were performed by females.

Around half of throws occurred during or around the time of interactions with other octopuses, such as arm probes or mating attempts, and about 17 percent of throws hit other octopuses.

Octopuses can change their skin coloration, with dark colors generally associated with aggression, and the researchers found that dark-colored octopuses tended to throw more forcefully and were more likely to hit another octopus.

Octopuses hit by thrown material often changed their behavior by ducking or raising their arms in the direction of the thrower.

The researchers say that although it is difficult to determine the intent of octopuses propelling debris through the water, it appears that at least in some social contexts, the creatures are capable of targeting throws at fellow octopuses.

This type of behavior has only been observed previously in a few non-human animals.

The authors said: “Wild octopuses project various kinds of material through the water in jet-propelled ‘throws,’ and these throws sometimes hit other octopuses.

“There is some evidence that some of these throws that hit others are targeted, and play a social role.”

The findings were published in the journal PLoS One.