Octopus are reclusive creatures. However, recent observations show cephalopods exhibiting playfully aggressive behavior not commonly displayed by other ocean-going species.
In footage caught recently by diver and PhD candidate Eduardo Sampaio, an octopus is seen lashing out at several fish. A doctoral researcher at the University of Lisbon in Portugal and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany, Sampaio was diving in the Red Sea when he filmed the infamous footage.
His team’s observations were published in the journal Ecology several weeks ago. And ever since, many across the science and diving communities have since been intrigued by the strange behavior.
Alexandra Schnell, a comparative psychologist at the University of Cambridge, told The New York Times that the cephalopod likely felt that it was about to lose a meal, causing it to lash out.
“The simplest explanation here is that the octopuses might have negatively associated losing a prey item with having a fish follow them around,” she explained.
Sampaio agrees, saying that the behavior was likely related to the animal’s innate instinct to feed.
“Their main drive is to eat,” he told The Times. “So when that comes into play, the gloves come off.”
Watch the video below and tell us your opinion in the comments!
While you’re probably not worried about getting punched by an octopus, the ocean does pack a wallop. That’s why it’s important to always wear something that can protect you from the marine environment. Whether it’s cold and you need max protection with the X-Mission Evolution Drysuit or it’s warm and you’re going minimal with our dynamic ExoWear, BARE gear gets you in your element.
