the octopus and the coconut
By jb78000
@jb78000 (15139)
December 26, 2009 7:48am CST
octopuses (or pi) are very intelligent for invertebrates (with some it is roughly estimated that they are equivalent to a cat, although measuring and comparing intelligence is extremely difficult) and they have been found to use tools.
so far what has been seen has been them collecting coconut shells, then transporting them awkwardly until they need to use them as protection. i thought this was fascinating although i have heard stories about octopus intelligence before. i have also watched footage of giant octopuses and it is quite eerie because they are obviously very curious and interested in what is going on but look completely alien.
so does this surprise you and how do you feel about a relative of snails being pretty bright?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@balasri (26537)
• India
28 Dec 09
Octopus always managed to fascinate me with their frightening and slimy appendages No wonder they are being called as Devil Fish for their strange appearance. Many a times The came in my dreams especially after those discovery channel watching days. Your discussion made me stumble upon this video which I hope that you will like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8cf7tPoN5o
1 person likes this
. someone mentioned the jar opening earlier but this is the first time i have seen footage of it.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Dec 09
hi blue bunny octopi going up on the beach and getting coconut shells, I missed this part but somewhere lately I read about
them having intelligences. maybe its a case of having to otherwise without intellect they might get themselves all'
tangled up in all those tentacles he he. I have read several
thrillers by Robin Cook about giant octopi and people stuck under the sea in an alien environment. he usually does a lot of
research on anything he writes so he made out that octopi were really very intelligent. But I have seen some articles on the net too about what they can do.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
26 Dec 09
hiya hatley,they are pretty smart and they don;t actually have to do this but it is useful to them. i don't think i have read robin cook but i have seen a lot of things about octopuses (i know octopi is better but i usually use pusses) because i am very interested in sea life. anyway here is a link on this: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214121953.htm
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Dec 09
I've read that octopuses are thought to be quite smart (squid also), but I don't remember any of the details. I love reading about animals anyway. Now if you come back and tell me that snails are intelligent that will feel weird.
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Dec 09
It causes me to giggle alittle and think of the tale of the turtle and the hare. I think if a turtle can be so smart then so can a relative to a snail.
@Tallygirl09 (1380)
• United States
27 Dec 09
The hare just can't control his enthusiasm, many of us are guilty of that too!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
26 Dec 09
I never ever intend to dissect one of my own after the first attempt but they are absolutely delicious when grilled. They also taste very good in the summer served in vinegar but I can't say I'm too impressed with them as an addition to pasta. They catch huge ones round here sometimes very close to land, not so intelligent when they fall for that one.
@lourdes_cute (2)
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
octopuses is a kind of an invertebrates live in water this is soft and if i see this kind of species its beautiful and also delicious to eat.
@lourdes_cute (2)
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
The octupus can swim by using its legs or by squirting water backwards to create a kind of jet propulsion. More often, however, it uses its eight suckered tentacles to crawl across rocks on the seabed.
@spiderlizard22 (3443)
• United States
26 Dec 09
I think it will help us find a link between humans and animals. Seeing what an octopus does can help us figure out how much task they can do with their brain size. I did hear octopus are the most intelligent invertebrate. I know octopus are flexible as well.
@jb78000 (15139)
•
27 Dec 09
not as much is known about their abilities as say rats, for fairly obvious reasons (not so easy to keep in captivity), i think some experiments have been done on little ones with the result that erm they learn quickly. i think watching their behaviour in the wild could turn up more interesting results.
@Tallygirl09 (1380)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Octopus are one of my favorite creatures, most are very friendly as I have handled them gently before. They are highly intelligent overall, and can open jars when motivated by a yummy treat inside. Overall I think that we humans don't understand the intellience level of most of the animal world. And I completely agree, they don't look anything like other creatures except maybe the squid...What is also truly amazing is just how strong they are for their size.
@bhawanee (174)
• India
27 Dec 09
Dear jb, i too watched video of intelligence in animal planet. Yes it is true that octopus carry coconut shell to protect themselves from other species but i could not get the comparison of intelligence between cat and octopus.
