Watch debris from the sea bottom fly, as octopuses hurl sand and other projectiles at their neighbors in an Australian bay.
It's no wonder that, with so many arms, octopuses turn out to be great pitchers. They can even target other octopuses with bits of seafloor debris — and score a direct hit.
"In some cases the projected material hits another octopus, or another object ," the scientists wrote in the study. "Doing this underwater, even for a short distance, seems especially unusual and quite hard to do, making this an even more striking behavior," study co-author David Scheel , a professor of marine biology at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, told Live Science in an email.Both male and female octopuses would throw debris, though two females performed about 66% of all the throwing.
Humans typically teach toddlers that throwing things is not the best way to communicate. But for other animals that live in close-knit communities — such as chimpanzees, capuchin monkeys and dolphins — chucking objects at members of the same population can serve as an important social cue, according to the study.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
John Elway makes “significant investment” in Tom’s Watch Bar to help fuel expansionThe Rockies' 'official bar' gets a boost from a Bronco. (via thknwco)
Read more »
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro get a cool new metal band option eachSamsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro users in the US can now buy a new $100 Milanese band compatible with the former and a premium $300 titanium metal link bracelet for the latter.
Read more »
Watch scenes from Dr. Mehmet Oz election night watch party (Video)Democrat John Fetterman declared victory in his race against Oz for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate early Wednesday morning, after Oz's watch party was over.
Read more »
In the line of fire: Debris throwing by wild octopusesWild Octopus tetricus frequently propel shells, silt, and algae through the water by releasing these materials from their arms while creating a forceful jet from the siphon held under the arm web. These 'throws' occur in several contexts at a site in Jervis Bay, Australia, including in interactions with other octopuses. Material thrown in interactive contexts frequently hits other octopuses. Some throws appear to be targeted on other individuals, as suggested by several kinds of evidence: Throws in interactive contexts were more vigorous than others, and more often used silt, rather than shells or algae. High vigor throws were more often accompanied by uniform or dark body patterns than other throws. Some throws were directed differently from beneath the arms and such throws were more likely to hit other octopuses. Throwing at other individuals in the same population, as apparently seen in these octopuses, is a rare form of nonhuman projectile use, previously seen only in some social mammals.
Read more »
The record-breaking Australian blind cricketer who has found a 'family' in the sport | CNNGrowing up visually impaired, school wasn’t easy for Steffan Nero. He remembers struggling with anxiety and being “very quiet,” “lonely” and “probably weird as well.” His life changed when he discovered visually impaired sports – notably cricket.
Read more »
Australian Crypto Fund Sells FTX (FTT) TokensThings are seemingly getting worse for FTX (FTT) token
Read more »