Octopuses work together with fish to hunt - and the way they share decisions is surprisingly complex

[BootinUp]

A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution lifts the veil on what happens when octopuses and fish hunt together. As it turns out, this cross-species relationship is more complex than anyone expected.

snip

During these hunting forays, the grouper uses signals to indicate where prey may be hidden in the coral matrix. It’s a synergy made in heaven: the eel can scare the prey fish from hiding places among the coral, while the grouper patrols over the top. There is literally no place for prey to hide.

snip

Who’s in charge here?
While researchers have described these behaviours before, one question remains unanswered. Who, exactly, is in charge of these cross-species interactions?

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In an international collaboration, biologist Eduardo Sampaio and colleagues have investigated cross-species interactions between the usually solitary day octopus (Octopus cyanea) and several fish species, such as goatfish and groupers.

https://theconversation.com/octopuses-work-together-with-fish-to-hunt-and-the-way-they-share-decisions-is-surprisingly-complex-239723

[House of Roberts]

1. I saw a report on this on BBC News.

I didn't have the sound up at the time though.

[alstephenson]

2. Saw an interesting show, I think on Netflix

I think it was "What I Learned from an Octopus", or something like that. Fascinating!

[BootinUp]

3. I believe I saw that one. Guy in South Africa, took years to film it. Amazing stuff. nt

[wryter2000]

5. My Octopus Teacher

The octopus at the Monterey Bay Aquarium entertained me until I had to give up watching and go home.

[wryter2000]

4. Octopuses are amazing

If you're curious, watch the Netflix film "My Octopus Teacher."

[3Hotdogs]

6. Cooperation between less developed species is probably more common than we realize.

It would not surprise me if it was learned that Proud Boys, Oaf Keepers and KKKers cooperate in hunting minorities.

[Judi Lynn]

7. I've read articles over the years concerning teen and young adult haters going with others

to other parts of towns to do just that. I remember reading one about both teen males and a couple of females driving to another town altogether and running over a man leaving his late night shift at his job.

Fortunately they were all caught and tried but damn them all, they all got to murder someone together in their good ol' pickup. From the way the report went they were really whooping it up afterward, too.

One innocent man destroyed by hate-fueled and raised monsters.

The other reports I've seen usually offered the maggots the safety of risk-free murdering from the safety of their cars.

You probably remember reading that Proud Boys and their peers buy boots with steel toes which they love, believing it allows them more destructive power in stomping their victims.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Trumpet fish love to find wider, larger fish and hover over them so fish below can't see them!

Shadowing a young parrot fish. They love parrot fish because they only eat plant material and are completely safe to shadow.

[BootinUp]

10. I wonder what they talk about...

[Judi Lynn]

9. Tremendous article! Never have seen photos of octopi hunting with pals! Amazing!

I had always imagined they lived very solitary, lives, and it's outstanding learning they to have some allies, of a sort, after all!





Wow!

Thank you, BootinUp. 🐙

[Judi Lynn]

11. Octopuses hunt alongside fish, but will wallop them if they fall out of line

New study explores social dynamics of group hunting along shallow reefs

Sheena Goodyear · CBC Radio · Posted: Sep 25, 2024 5:08 PM CDT | Last Updated: 36 minutes ago




A big blue octopus, also known as a day octopus, hunts in a group with groupers and goatfish. (Submitted by Eduardo Sampaio)

Despite their reputation as loners, it turns out octopuses will happily hunt in groups with other species — as long as everyone knows who's boss.

Scientists in Germany have captured hours of footage of octopuses working in tandem with different species of reef fish to track down prey like smaller crustaceans, fish and molluscs and flush them out of their hidey-holes.

These hunting groups follow "a very complex leadership dynamic" that's not so different from your average human workplace, says biologist Eduardo Sampaio.

"Say there are three or four that are pitching ideas or providing options. So these are the fish," Sampaio told As It Happens host Nil Köksal.

More:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/octopus-fish-collaboration-1.7333968