This Octopus Takes Its Shelter Before It Needs It

In Indonesia, researchers observed octopuses Amphioctopus marginatus picking up abandoned coconut shells. They cleared them, cleaned them with jets of water, and then transported them to another place. The hull was therefore not simply a refuge met by chance and occupied on the spot.

To move forward with this load, the octopus adopts an unusual approach, with the hulls under its body. Once arrived, she can assemble the pieces to shelter there. This move is less convenient than objectless locomotion, but allows the equipment to be kept for later use.

The behavior, published in 2009, is presented as a particularly compelling example of tool use in octopuses. It concerns the individuals observed, without giving all species the same know-how. Its most surprising detail remains this shift: the object complicates the journey before becoming useful at destination.