Aussie scientists find coconut-carrying octopus (first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/15/09 | Kristen Gelineau - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SYDNEY – Australian scientists have discovered an octopus in Indonesia that collects coconut shells for shelter — unusually sophisticated behavior that the researchers believe is the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.

The scientists filmed the veined octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, selecting halved coconut shells from the sea floor, emptying them out, carrying them under their bodies up to 65 feet (20 meters), and assembling two shells together to make a spherical hiding spot.

Julian Finn and Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Melbourne observed the odd activity in four of the creatures during a series of dive trips to North Sulawesi and Bali in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008. Their findings were published Tuesday in the journal Current Biology.

"I was gobsmacked," said Finn, a research biologist at the museum who specializes in cephalopods. "I mean, I've seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I've never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh."

[NormsRevenge]

Veined Octopus in coconut shell shelter
Image: Roger Steene
Source: Courtesy of Current Biology

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?

Not really. I've seen Mike Steele use a fork before.

[Nick Danger]

the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.

No way. Somewhere around here I have a picture of Trent Lott with a pair of pliers.

[NormsRevenge]

Video
http://museumvictoria.com.au/about/mv-news/2009/tool-use-in-veined-octopus/

[1rudeboy]

I, for one, welcome our new octopi overlords.

[montyspython]

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

[Marty62]

Ok they are relatives of Snails. What is so unusual about this behavour.
Someone happened to film them doing what comes natural and all of a sudden they are on the level of HUMANS.
UH HUH

Cool video BTW.

[Hoodat]

Was the coconut first carried by a swallow?

[MNDude]

first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?

Actually Not. I once saw a grasshopper using a piece of grass as a toothpick.

[nina0113]

Biology class was a LOOONNNG time ago, but aren’t hermit crabs invertebrates? Does it mean more that it’s a coconut shell rather than a seashell?

It’s still a cute video.

[Oratam]

I still don’t want one operating on me.

[Right Brother]

Somewhere around here I have a picture of Trent Lott with a pair of pliers.

LOL. I think I've seen him around various tools......

Like McCain and Steele.

[massgopguy]

Anyone who watched the Undersea World of Jacques Coustaeu could tell you that an Octopus will use any “container” for protection.

[NewJerseyJoe]

>first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate?)

Not true.... I've seen Democrats taking an axe to the Constitution on many occasions.

[Erik Latranyi]

Was the coconut first carried by a swallow?

I expect it grasped it by the husk.....

[TexasRepublic]

I’m not too impressed. Ping me when they find an octopus using a lathe.

[capt. norm]

unusually sophisticated behavior that the researchers believe is the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal

I guess they forgot all about hermit crabs. They "borrow" used shells (and anything that looks like a shell to them) all the time and make portable "homes" out of them.

[Vaquero]

slightly different...I suppose

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407858/posts

[Allegra]

What are coconut shells doing on the ocean floor?