The veined octopus' coconut shelters may be first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate

Biologists studying the habits of veined octopuses in the waters of Indonesia have noticed that the animal has a most unusual hobby: collecting discarded coconut shells and using them for shelter.

Beyond the fact that it’s hilarious to watch the octopuses slithering across the ocean floor dragging halved coconut shells and even assembling two of them to make a creative hiding spot (watch the embedded video above), it also could be the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.

According to the Associated Press, two Australian scientists -- Julian Finn, a research biologist at the museum who specializes in cephalopods, and Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Melbourne -- observed the behavior in four of the veined octopuses during a series of dive trips in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008. Their findings were published this week in the journal Current Biology. "We were blown away," Norman told National Geographic of the strange discovery. "It was hard not to laugh underwater and flood your [scuba] mask."

Similar to hermit crabs, octopuses often use foreign objects as shelter, but the veined octopus takes the idea one step further. It's been observed preparing the shells by cleaning them out, carrying them long distances (up to 65 feet) and reassembling them as shelter in another place. 

The whole process is rather a tricky one; in order to move the shells, an octopus must first stack them, then wrap its body over them before "[trundling] along on its arm tips until a predator comes or there's a threat," Finn explained in an interview with Australia's ABC News.

That’s an example of tool use, which he says has never been recorded in invertebrates before.  And it's made all the more impressive, Norman told ABC News, because it "comes at a cost, carrying these shells in this awkward way and it's a fantastic example of complex behaviours in what we consider the lower life forms."

However, since there is ongoing debate in the scientific community about the definition of tool use in the animal kingdom, the findings about the octopus are not yet conclusive.

Regardless, we're still amazed at these clever octopuses, so smartly toting around their coconut shells like they're a hot new fashion accessory. (Prediction: Coconut-shell purses with ornate octopus clasps will be taking over the runways come fall.  Who wants to bet?)

-- Kelsey Ramos and Lindsay Barnett

Video: Associated Press

Photo: A veined octopus in its coconut-shell hiding place.  Credit: European Pressphoto Agency

Comments

[Riggo]

What a quote; "comes at a cost, carrying these shells in this awkward way and it's a fantastic example of complex behaviours in what we consider the lower life forms."
This news article appeared on the BBC World News just after the feature on a car bomb in Afghanistan and civil war in Yemen. So which is the lower form of li?
The feature also suggested that this was amazing behavior for a creature so closely related to a snail… hmmm… I guess a snail would never take cover in a hard shell…

[Jim Anderson]

These guys should go diving more often. Next they will discover that the female will deposit her eggs in the coconut shells then guard them (eggs) by holding the two halfs together. Real divers and "tropical" collectors have known this. It has be going on for a long,long time!
Wait till they find an octopus between two discarded tuna fish cans. I found one nesting like that, off Key Largo Florida, in the sixtys.
(1965)

[David]

I've found it difficult to swallow octopus ever since some snorkeling teenagers in Taiwan showed me how smart they are. Perhaps when we encounter intelligent extraterrestrial life it won't be bipedal after all.

[Charles]

Seems to me I remember some video a couple of years ago of octopi opening closed jars, climbing into the jars, and closing the lids. They're all fantastic whether you call it using tools or not.

[Tridoit]

Interesting story, but a followup finding and report may cast aspersions on the creative ability of this octopus species...

According to subsequent accounts, divers also discovered "How To" BOOKs nearby these occupied dwellings! One Sunset publication was entitled "Inexepensive Housing for Invertebrates, A Practical Step-by-Step Guide".

Forensic identification may prove difficult (because the octopi have no fingers to leave fingerprints), but DNA evidence may well prove a linkage. If so, we will be back to "square one" concerning tool creativity among invertebrates.

[rebecca]

I love watching these amazing creatures in action! Here's another really fun one for the holidays. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRgiHu-hV3k

[Mike Staples]

It is strange that the scientists find this behaviour a first. For years I and other divers have seen octopus using all sorts of material in the Maldives and other diving centres, to build shelters. Bottles, coral, rocks and coconuts are all fair game for these clever creatures and the one sure way to find one is to look for a pile of dead coral or rocks and peek inside. You will usually find one resting in his little crafted home.

[Dan]

That is pretty cool stuff! Wouldn't the coconut dissolve/become pretty much useless as a home for the octopus over a short amount of time under the water, though? Just doesn't seem like it'd make a long lasting shell, to me...