Octopus kicks away freeloading fish. In new footage, octopuses were seen punching ‘opportunistic’ fish, individuals that attached themselves to the hunting group but did not help them find food. (Eduardo Sampaio)
Octopuses recruit fish from the right “school” of thought to help them get food
Octopuses and fish have been caught on camera teaming up to hunt for prey. In a new study from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, researchers caught 13 instances of the cross-species collaboration over 120 hours of footage, showing a big blue octopus (Octopus cyanea) working with different fish species to capture meals.
Each of these scenes hinted at complex group dynamics, with different species adopting different roles. “The other fish provide several options, and then the octopus decides which one to take,” says animal-behaviour researcher and co-author Eduardo Sampaio who published his findings in Nature Ecology & Evolution. This comes on the heels of first-ever marine research that shows how coral reefs are eating laxatives and our blood pressure medication.
An octopus–fish hunting pack searches for prey. Credit: Eduardo Sampaio and Simon Gingins
“There’s this element of shared leadership.”
In new footage, shown above, octopuses were seen punching ‘opportunistic’ fish, individuals that attached themselves to the hunting group but did not help them find food. There is evidence for getting rid of freeloading friends in nature. Don’t feel guilty if you too have to kick your friend off your couch.
The octopuses also seemed to adapt and respond to different situations.
Dr. Eduardo Sampaio from the Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour” and researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. Credit: Victor Rault / Captain Darwin
In some groups, certain fish species — especially blacktip groupers (Epinephelus fasciatus) — were opportunistic, attaching themselves to the group without helping to find food. In some of these cases, octopuses would use their tentacles to ‘punch’ these opportunists in what seemed to be an attempt to punish them or get them to leave the group. Sampaio, pictured above, says that the team is interested in studying whether octopuses can recognize individual fish that have previously exhibited opportunistic behaviour.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
