Octopuses Seen Hunting Together with Fish on Rare Video
Summary
A recent study has found that Octopus Cyanea, also known as the big blue octopus, sometimes forms surprising hunting alliances with multiple fish species, showcasing unexpected social behavior for a typically solitary creature. Observed off the coast of Eilat, Israel, these octopuses participate in mixed-species hunting groups. These octopuses sometimes nudge or even "punch" fish to maintain order and keep the hunt progressing. This teamwork benefits both: fish rely on the octopus to flush prey from crevices, while the octopus saves energy by following the fish to food sources. The study suggests social intelligence in octopuses that challenges long-held beliefs. Hinting, at the possible evolutionary roots of social behavior and raising questions about whether octopuses learn these skills or recognize these individual fish. The video evidence supporting these findings opens new ideas for understanding vertebrate social intelligence.
Interesting/Important Facts
Octopus Cyanea is also known as the big blue octopus or day octopus.
Octopus Cyanea is part of the Cephalopod species.
Octopuses often avoid members of their species and prowl solo using camouflage.
Octopuses were found in hunting groups which typically included several species of reef fish (Groupers and Goatfish).
Octopuses don’t lead the group but punch to enforce social order, most of the time they punch Blacktip Groupers.
The fish that get more punched are the main exploiters of the group. Meaning, they are ambush predators that don’t help look for prey.
Octopuses also punch to keep the group moving.
The octopus benefits from these groups because it can just follow the fish to food, and not need to perform speculative hunting. Speculative hunting involves the predator floating or moving slowly through an area, stopping frequently to check potential hiding spots like crevices or rocks, hoping to find prey.
The goatfish are the ones exploring the environment and finding prey.
The octopus is the decider of the group.
Based on video evidence the blue goldfish would roam off and lead the hunting group in their direction. But the group of fish wouldn’t follow if the octopus didn’t follow.
The creatures didn’t share prey. Whoever was able to catch prey got a meal.
All the species involved in the hunting group are generalists that eat crustaceans, fish, and mollusks.
Some scientists believe in the theory of evolution called the social brain hypothesis. This says that primates and other animals evolved large brains to process social information and collaborate with others.
My Opinion
This new study on Octopus Cyanea adds a fascinating twist to scientist’s understanding of octopus behavior. It’s especially cool and funny that octopuses not only engage in group hunting but even resort to punching their fish partners when they’re not pulling their weight. This new video evidence offers incredible insights into how octopuses interact, suggesting they’re not the antisocial loners people think they are. The way they organize and enforce group rules displays a form of intelligence, showing that octopuses might be more social animals. I think it’s interesting how some octopus species have trouble participating in hunting groups but others don’t. This also makes me believe in the Social Brain Hypothesis, that some Octopus species have evolved to become more social for the sake of their survival.