Find Out Why These Octopuses Throw Things at Each Other

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The more scientists study octopuses, the more we learn how fascinating these creatures really are. Octopuses are incredibly intelligent, displaying all kinds of amazing behavior like completing puzzles, opening jars, and escaping from aquariums. Recently, scientists have witnessed a species of octopus, the gloomy octopus (Octopus tetricus), engaging in even more extraordinary acts than previously seen. In research published in 2022, scientists caught the deep sea creatures on video deliberating hurtling debris and shells at each other through the water.

In the video above, you can watch an octopus emerge from its den and launch a pile of debris and silt at a nearby octopus. It happens time and time again, and in each case, it seems to be a deliberate attempt on the part of the octopus to target the other nearby octopus. It’s extremely rare in the animal world for an animal to throw things, and has only been seen in a few species such as non-human primates and elephants.

Why Scientists Were Astonished by This Behavior

As we said above, it’s rare to see animals pick up and throw objects. It’s even more rare to see animals pick up and throw objects at a target. If we think about what’s involved in the act, you can see why. The animal needs to use planning skills when they gather the materials they want to throw. For example, chimpanzees living in zoos have been seen gathering piles of rocks and hiding them, only to hurtle them later on at visitors.

Beyond the mental act, throwing something directly at a target requires physical dexterity as well. Furthermore, when animals target their throws at the same species, scientists believe it may be a form of communication.

The octopuses seen in the videos threw silt, shells, and algae at other nearby octopuses. To do so, they gathered up the debris underneath their bodies using their arms. They then used their siphon, a tube-like part of their body, to expel water aimed at the debris. This sent everything soaring through the water aimed at their target.

What Makes the Scientists Think the Throws Were Deliberate

About one-third of the throws happened when the octopuses were cleaning out their dens, and these tended to be objects such as shells, which were launched into the water without any apparent target. But the rest all occurred after an interaction or when two octopuses were near each other. A few of the throws even appeared to be aimed at the cameras.

Also, the octopuses use their siphons to clear debris, but when they seem to launch materials at each other, they move their siphon under the web of their arms before blowing water out. This is unusual behavior to move their siphon in this position, and may even be difficult for them to achieve.

Why They’re Throwing Things

Of course, it’s hard to interpret the exact motivation of an animal, and by doing so we do run the risk of attributing human thoughts and feelings to the creature. However, after observing hours of video footage of the gloomy octopuses launching objects at each other, scientists had some theories.

Crowded conditions

It could be that the crowded conditions at Jervis Bay, Australia, may lead the solitary creatures to get easily annoyed with each other and have some dust-ups. Jervis Bay is home to a large number of gloomy octopuses that are drawn to the area for food and perfect conditions for making their dens. Possibly the close living quarters are too close for comfort.

Protecting their eggs

The majority of the octopuses throwing debris at others were females. Scientists theorized they may be protecting their eggs.

Thwarting a mate

In some instances, a female octopus would launch materials at a nearby male who was trying to mate with her. Perhaps it’s her way of communicating that she wasn’t interested in his attention.

Needing personal space

In another instance, a female octopus repeatedly threw silt at another octopus whose den was nearby. The other octopus even began to duck down and raise its arms to protect itself from the imminent attacks, though it never fought back. It could be that their dens were too close together for the female’s liking.

How Intelligent Are Octopuses?

We tend to think of only primates as using tools in the animal world, but when octopuses throw materials, they use the water as a tool. These deep sea creatures are incredibly intelligent and have been found to have as many neurons overall in their brains as dogs. However, they don’t have just one brain, but a central brain in their head and a mini-brain in each arm. Like humans and other mammals, octopuses are adaptable and great problem-solvers.