Aussie scientists find coconut-carrying octopus (first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/15/09 | Kristen Gelineau - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SYDNEY – Australian scientists have discovered an octopus in Indonesia that collects coconut shells for shelter — unusually sophisticated behavior that the researchers believe is the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.

The scientists filmed the veined octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, selecting halved coconut shells from the sea floor, emptying them out, carrying them under their bodies up to 65 feet (20 meters), and assembling two shells together to make a spherical hiding spot.

Julian Finn and Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Melbourne observed the odd activity in four of the creatures during a series of dive trips to North Sulawesi and Bali in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008. Their findings were published Tuesday in the journal Current Biology.

"I was gobsmacked," said Finn, a research biologist at the museum who specializes in cephalopods. "I mean, I've seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I've never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh."

[NormsRevenge]

Veined Octopus in coconut shell shelter
Image: Roger Steene
Source: Courtesy of Current Biology

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?

Not really. I've seen Mike Steele use a fork before.

[Nick Danger]

the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.

No way. Somewhere around here I have a picture of Trent Lott with a pair of pliers.

[NormsRevenge]

Video
http://museumvictoria.com.au/about/mv-news/2009/tool-use-in-veined-octopus/

[1rudeboy]

I, for one, welcome our new octopi overlords.

[montyspython]

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

[Marty62]

Ok they are relatives of Snails. What is so unusual about this behavour.
Someone happened to film them doing what comes natural and all of a sudden they are on the level of HUMANS.
UH HUH

Cool video BTW.

[Hoodat]

Was the coconut first carried by a swallow?

[MNDude]

first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?

Actually Not. I once saw a grasshopper using a piece of grass as a toothpick.

[nina0113]

Biology class was a LOOONNNG time ago, but aren’t hermit crabs invertebrates? Does it mean more that it’s a coconut shell rather than a seashell?

It’s still a cute video.

[Oratam]

I still don’t want one operating on me.

[Right Brother]

Somewhere around here I have a picture of Trent Lott with a pair of pliers.

LOL. I think I've seen him around various tools......

Like McCain and Steele.

[massgopguy]

Anyone who watched the Undersea World of Jacques Coustaeu could tell you that an Octopus will use any “container” for protection.

[NewJerseyJoe]

>first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?)

Not true.... I've seen Democrats taking an axe to the Constitution on many occasions.

[Erik Latranyi]

Was the coconut first carried by a swallow?

I expect it grasped it by the husk.....

[TexasRepublic]

I’m not too impressed. Ping me when they find an octopus using a lathe.

[capt. norm]

unusually sophisticated behavior that the researchers believe is the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal

I guess they forgot all about hermit crabs. They "borrow" used shells (and anything that looks like a shell to them) all the time and make portable "homes" out of them.

[Vaquero]

slightly different...I suppose

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407858/posts

[Allegra]

What are coconut shells doing on the ocean floor?

[paulycy]

Octopi collect a lot of things. They're very sneaky.

[Cyberrat]

"I expect it grasped it by the husk....."

It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a 1 pound coconut.

[poindexter]

Does it mean more that it’s a coconut shell rather than a seashell?

The octopus didn't just pick up a shell and use it, it built a shelter!

[Traveler59]

African or European?

[avg_freeper]

What's the velocity of a coconut laden octopus?

[Cyberrat]

"African or European?"

Oh, yeah, an African swallow maybe, but not a European swallow, that's my point.

[Salgak]

Pining for the fjords, no doubt. . .

(evil grin)

[nina0113]

I didn’t see any building going on. I saw an octopus pick up both halves of a coconut shell and crawl inside. Still very cute, but not really a big deal.

[Right Wing Assault]

What are coconut shells doing on the ocean floor?

They like to mate underwater.

[Right Wing Assault]

Quick, get these things word processors. Maybe they can write a better health care bill.

[shibumi]

Hardly the first example of tool use by invertebrates .....

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Yum! Octopus with coconut in black bean sauce!

[paulycy]

Most of the Bikini Bottom phenomena have been under-reported in the literature.

[Vinnie]

Octopi are pretty clever.

I’ve seen videos of them figuring out how to get out of an enclosure, getting to fish that were placed in clear containers underwater.

Fascinating animals.

[Salamander]

Pfffft.

Ray guns.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I just saw this on Korean TV today. He scoots along in his coconut shellmobile and carries the hood (top half of the coconut) in front of him as he goes. Imagine a kid in a toy car, scooting himself along with his feet.

[JimC214]

No Hermit Crabs are Decapod Crustaceans, Arthropod's, they have exoskeletons.

[Darteaus94025]

"I expect it grasped it by the husk....."

"It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a 1 pound coconut."

Maybe it had a wheelbarrow.

[MissEdie]

They’re looking for Spongebob! They want the recipe for the Krabby Patties...

[nina0113]

I know they have exoskeletons (basically they’re sea spiders) but lacking a backbone they are invertebrates. I’m Googling for that old Biology tree diagram from junior high but haven’t found it yet. Everything ELSE is on the internet, so it’s just a matter of time till I find it.

[Slings and Arrows]

It’s Santa Cthulhu!

[Zeppo]

Yeah... And he lives in a coconut shell, too... Er, I mean, he lives in a pineapple... Same difference...

[762X51]

It went into a coconut shell cause there wasn’t a beer can nearby. Now, had he gone onto land, shimmied up a palm tree and picked out a coconut to his wife’s liking, hollowed it out and then took it back into the sea with him, THEN I’d be impressed! Heck several years back while snorkeling in the Bahamas I saw one hiding in a cylinder in an old engine block. No one suggested he had driven there.

[montyspython]

2 knots.... I’m guesstimating of course considering I do not know the ...... AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[tillacum]

Sitting on a leaf with it’s legs crossed, starring at the moon.

[nomorelurker]

Paging Tom Hanks. “Wilson” has been found!

[valkyry1]

Not much really, just kind of laying there.

[Brugmansian]

Amphioctopus marginatus, selecting halved coconut shells from the sea floor, emptying them out, carrying them under their bodies up to 65 feet (20 meters), and assembling two shells together to make a spherical hiding spot.

Soon a Barney Frantopus will emerge who will convince other octopi if they vote for him, they can get a coconut shell house without working at all.