Octopuses work together with fish to hunt - and the way they share decisions is surprisingly complex
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.
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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.
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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
= new reply since forum marked as read
Shadowing a young parrot fish. They love parrot fish because they only eat plant material and are completely safe to shadow.
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. 🐙
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