#COCONUT OCTOPUS SKIN#

Now, there is even support for marine invertebrates to engage in tool-use, a benchmark for cognitive sophistication. Tools were once thought of as the defining feature of our species however, tool-use behaviors have been revealed in other primates and a growing range of mammals and birds.

This behavior has likely evolved from the octopus using large, empty bivalve shells prior to the coconut shell halves being discarded by the coastal human communities near-by this species habitat. The octopus is carrying the shell (or shells) for future use rather than part of specific tasks such as using rocks to barricade the entrance to its den.įurther evidence suggests this demonstrates tool-use behavior because the octopus is required to correctly assemble the separate parts (when transporting two shells in a non-functional form) to create a single functioning tool when needed. When they need to hide from predators (viperfish, great white sharks, and larger octopuses), the octopus assembles the shells for shelter. However, the benefit must out-weigh the cost. When being carried, the shells offer no protection and place a cost on the octopus to use this awkward form of locomotion, stilt walking. A tool provides no benefit until it is used for a specific job. An example of this is a hermit crab using a gastropod shell. Simple behaviors such as the use of an object (or objects) as a shelter are not typically considered as tool-use because the shelter is in use all the time. The authors description of this behavior gave us a chuckle as we envisioned the “lumbering octopedal gait”, which they called “stilt walking”.

To carry shell(s), the octopus manipulated and arranged the shell(s) so the concave surfaces were upright, extended its arms around the outside, and walked using its arms as rigid limbs. On four occasions, octopuses were observed to travel over substantial distances (up to 20 m or 65 ft!) while carrying stacked coconut shell halves under their arms. They completed 500 dive hours and observed more than 20 individual octopuses (science is hard work!). A group of researchers studied a range of behaviors for the coconut octopus off the coasts of Northern Sulawesi and Bali in Indonesia. This octopus’ common name originates from its behavior to carry coconut shells. The suckers are white to pink and really stand out against the dark brown to black border along the edge of its arms. The most distinctive feature of the coconut octopus is its suckers.

#COCONUT OCTOPUS SKIN#

This species has a narrow transverse “head bar” and a pair of white spots present on its dorsal mantle.įor skin sculpture, this species has four longitudinal skin ridges in a diamond shape on its dorsal mantle and a single large papilla over each eye. Its most distinguishing body pattern is purple background with dark purple-brown branched lines which take on a vein-line pattern. The coconut octopus can be tan-brown in color to blend-in with its environment.

Coconut octopus