{"id":42171,"date":"2024-10-02T16:00:18","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/528c2861-7bfe-4984-9593-77fd783ac586"},"modified":"2024-10-02T17:27:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T15:27:31","slug":"octopuses-are-now-punching-fish-in-the-face-this-video-shows-exactly-why","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/octopuses-are-now-punching-fish-in-the-face-this-video-shows-exactly-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Octopuses are now punching fish in the face. This video shows exactly why"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite these attacks, the fish are keen to stick close to the octopuses \u2013 for one very good reason <\/p>

By Beki Hooper\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 02 October 2024 at 14:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Octopus cyanea\u00a0<\/em>is a species of octopus that is normally solitary, but\u00a0a recent study<\/a>\u00a0reveals that some members of this species take part in multispecies hunting groups. <\/strong><\/p>

They work together with various fish species, including grouper and blue goatfish, to find prey.<\/p>

Being part of a multispecies hunting group can be a dangerous affair, as this fish found out\/Eduardo Sampaio & Simon Gingins<\/figcaption><\/figure>

By analysing over one hundred hours of underwater video footage, researchers discovered that different species within the hunting group have different roles.<\/p>

The fish \u2013 particularly blue goatfish \u2013 are the explorers, moving around looking for prey (such as small fish, crustaceans and molluscs<\/a>). When prey is found, the octopuses then flush it out of its hiding spot. While the fish decide the direction of travel, the octopuses are the ‘anchor\u2019 of the group, deciding if and when the group should move.<\/p>

Individuals in the group do not share what they kill, but each group member increases the likelihood of making a kill by working together. Teamwork is therefore beneficial for everyone.<\/p>

That is, until individuals try to exploit the group by catching prey without helping to find it or flush it. The octopuses do not put up with this behaviour, though. They punish the cheaters by punching them with their tentacles.<\/p>

The octopuses do not put up with this behaviour, though. They punish the cheaters by punching them with their tentacles.<\/p><\/blockquote>

The discovery of these multispecies hunting parties has caused a bit of a splash because cooperation between species, especially when different species take on specific and separate roles, is rare. <\/p>

This division of roles “creates a complex dynamic in terms of leadership, effectively sharing it between animals that seek prey and animals that ‘unlock’ prey for others,\u201d Dr Eduardo Sampaio, lead author of the study, tells\u00a0BBC Wildlife Magazine<\/em>. <\/p>

\u201cSuch behaviour had never been seen in large animal groups made up of different species.\u201d<\/p>

Video footage shows octopuses punching fish\/Eduardo Sampaio & Simon Gingins<\/figcaption><\/figure>