Octopus cyanea is a species of octopus that is normally solitary, but a recent study reveals that some members of this species take part in multispecies hunting groups.
They work together with various fish species, including grouper and blue goatfish, to find prey.
By analysing over one hundred hours of underwater video footage, researchers discovered that different species within the hunting group have different roles.
The fish – particularly blue goatfish – are the explorers, moving around looking for prey (such as small fish, crustaceans and molluscs). When prey is found, the octopuses then flush it out of its hiding spot. While the fish decide the direction of travel, the octopuses are the 'anchor’ of the group, deciding if and when the group should move.
Individuals in the group do not share what they kill, but each group member increases the likelihood of making a kill by working together. Teamwork is therefore beneficial for everyone.
That is, until individuals try to exploit the group by catching prey without helping to find it or flush it. The octopuses do not put up with this behaviour, though. They punish the cheaters by punching them with their tentacles.
The octopuses do not put up with this behaviour, though. They punish the cheaters by punching them with their tentacles.
The discovery of these multispecies hunting parties has caused a bit of a splash because cooperation between species, especially when different species take on specific and separate roles, is rare.
This division of roles "creates a complex dynamic in terms of leadership, effectively sharing it between animals that seek prey and animals that 'unlock' prey for others,” Dr Eduardo Sampaio, lead author of the study, tells BBC Wildlife Magazine.
“Such behaviour had never been seen in large animal groups made up of different species.”
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Not only does this study reveal a rare example of complex, dynamic multispecies cooperation, but it also tells us something about octopus cognition.
Octopuses are known to be clever creatures, but because they tend to be solitary, it has long been assumed that they don’t have particularly good social intelligence.
This study shows that octopuses are able to process complex and dynamic social information, and use it to help them catch prey.
The authors plan to delve even deeper into hunting group dynamics. “When you finish one study, at least three other follow-up studies pop-up in your head,” Dr Sampaio says.
The team are now looking at the role of communication in these hunting parties, including the role that octopus skin patterns might play in communicating with fish.
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