Indonesia's veined octopus 'stilt walks' to collect coconut shells (as tools) [View All]

[depakid]

Octopuses have been seen collecting coconut shells to use as protection.
-------------

An octopus that ferries around coconut husks while “stilt-walking” with its extended arms is among the most primitive species yet found to use tools, research has suggested. Veined octopuses from Indonesia have been observed stacking coconut shells thrown away by humans and then transporting them across the sea floor, using them as portable armour to protect against predators.

Scientists who first observed the behaviour while diving off the coasts of Bali and northern Sulawesi said it was one of the first documented examples of an invertebrate using tools — a capability once thought to be uniquely human. They added that the spectacle, in which the octopus spreads itself over coconut shells before extending its arms to “stilt-walk”, was very funny to watch.

“I could tell that the octopus, busy manipulating coconut shells, was up to something,” said Julian Finn, a member of the study team from the Museum Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. “But I never expected it would pick up the stacked shells and run away. It was an extremely comical sight — I have never laughed so hard underwater.”

His colleague Mark Norman said the “stilt-walking” with coconut shells was a clear example of tool use, which is widely known among birds and primates but extremely rare in invertebrates such as octopuses.

“There is a fundamental difference between picking up a nearby object and putting it over your head as protection versus collecting, arranging, transporting — awkwardly — and assembling portable armour as required,” he said.

The octopuses’ behaviour, details of which are described in the journal Current Biology, was observed during 500 hours of diving in Indonesia, during which the researchers watched 20 veined octopuses, of the species Amphioctopus marginatus.

More: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/biology_evolution/article6956352.ece
----------

Tool using invertebrates... reminds me of a certain party's Senate leadership.