New study explores social dynamics of group hunting along shallow reefs
Sheena Goodyear · CBC Radio · Posted: Sep 25, 2024 5:08 PM CDT | Last Updated: 36 minutes ago
A big blue octopus, also known as a day octopus, hunts in a group with groupers and goatfish. (Submitted by Eduardo Sampaio)
Despite their reputation as loners, it turns out octopuses will happily hunt in groups with other species — as long as everyone knows who's boss.
Scientists in Germany have captured hours of footage of octopuses working in tandem with different species of reef fish to track down prey like smaller crustaceans, fish and molluscs and flush them out of their hidey-holes.
These hunting groups follow "a very complex leadership dynamic" that's not so different from your average human workplace, says biologist Eduardo Sampaio.
"Say there are three or four that are pitching ideas or providing options. So these are the fish," Sampaio told As It Happens host Nil Köksal.
More:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/octopus-fish-collaboration-1.7333968
Edit history
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
= new reply since forum marked as read