![]() A better example of their impressive intelligence is their ability to manipulate an L-shaped object so it can pass through a small square opening in a wall.ĭon’t worry, she can escape any time she wants. This is mostly a matter of dexterity and gripping, and octopuses are quite slow when executing this task: even when over-trained, an octopus always takes more than a minute to open a jar. The opening of jars, while impressive and often used to illustrate octopus intelligence, is not their most remarkable ability. From there, it is up to them to decide when to release their catch. They are also extremely curious and will spend their time catching hands, nets or any other object introduced to their tank. Their incredible strength allows them to easily destroy our lab tools: be careful with underwater cameras, they can open the waterproof box to drown them! And because octopuses are boneless, they can easily escape their tanks through the smallest of openings. ![]() ![]() They are complex animals to study, because of their astonishing abilities. In our EthoS laboratory, we are currently working on the memory and future planning abilities of the common octopus. We can test the cognitive abilities of octopuses in the lab. ![]() This toxin is injected into a very precise muscle under the shell, and octopuses learn and remember the drilling site of each seashell they consume. Octopuses use different techniques to consume seashells and molluscs, either pulling apart the shell by force and placing a small stone inside to keep it open, or drilling into the shell to inject a paralysing toxin which will make the prey open up. It can learn to avoid crabs bearing poisonous anemones or find a way to cautiously attack them while avoiding being stung. It can cooperate with other species such as groupers to hunt hidden prey. They can use their vision and camouflage skills to hunt, and their arms to explore, touch and taste their environment to seize every bit of food within reach. Octopuses are also formidable predators themselves, and their attack mechanisms are suited to the wide variety of prey they consume, including seashells, crustaceans, fish and even other cephalopods. This is the case for the coconut octopus, which, true to its name, has been observed carrying coconut shells around to hide within in case of danger. Some prefer to wrap themselves in shells and pebbles, while others transport their shelter in their arms. Some species maintain their shelter by removing sand and adding pebbles and shells. Without a shell, octopuses are vulnerable, and always try to remain hidden in a shelter such as a cavity or the space beneath a rock. They can imitate their environment by modifying the colour and even the texture of their skin. Faced with multiple predators – including fish, birds and whales – octopuses are masters of camouflage. Let’s focus first on their defence mechanisms. Numerous studies indicate the octopuses possess great flexibility in their behaviours, whether they express them in their natural environment or inside a tank in a laboratory. ![]() These are the mechanisms through which information from the environment is perceived, processed, transformed, remembered and used to take decisions and act.įrom a behavioural point of view, the flexibility with which an animal can adapt itself and adjust its behaviour to novel situations is a good indicator of its cognitive abilities. In ethology, the study of behaviour, we explore this intelligence, which we classify as individual “cognitive abilities”. So why is it that they seem to show such peculiar similarities with humans, while at the same time appearing so alien? Perhaps because despite their tentacles covered with suckers and their lack of bones, their eyes, brains and even their curiosity remind us our own thirst for knowledge. Our last common ancestor with the octopus existed more than 500 million years ago. ![]()
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