Divers know that octopus are one of the most-intelligent creatures in the oceans, but like humans, they can have their moments – and now anti-social octopus have been caught on camera throwing silt and shells at one another.
Researchers from the University of Sydney have trawled through hours of footage shot in Jervis Bay in Australia – a location where many common Sydney or ‘gloomy’ octopus unusually gather together (octopus are generally solitary creatures) – and noted 102 instances where a group of them were actively throwing algae, silt and shells, seemingly at other octopus.
Past research has found that female octopus will throw objects at males when they’re feeling harassed, and in this latest footage, two females were found to be the main culprits, making up 66 percent of the throws.
Octopus have previously been recorded ‘punching’ passing fish, seemingly for no reason. So perhaps they have more in common with some humans than we think…
