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Old 12-15-2009, 06:21 PM   #1
Elspode
When Do I Get Virtual Unreality?
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Raytown, Missouri
Posts: 12,719
Dec 16, 2009: Octopus Uses Coconut as Shelter

You've gotta be really quick if you're going to post an IOTD here. This is the first I've done since the option for anyone to post them was opened up.

We know octopi are smart. We've already got a video somewhere on here of one opening a jar. But now it seems we're finding out that they snag and use coconuts as shelter.

This *is* a pretty cool revelation, and it is being cited as a unique example of tool use by an invertebrate. Now, I'm no taxonomist, but...what about hermit crabs and the shells they glom onto? Isn't this basically the same behavior?

Nevertheless, it is an interesting view of a critter that we assume to be inferior to ourselves.

Fun video here.
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Last edited by xoxoxoBruce; 12-16-2009 at 12:06 AM. Reason: format
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