# Fascinating Insights into Female Octopus Behavior
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Chapter 1: The Intriguing World of Octopuses
Octopuses are among the most remarkable and peculiar creatures inhabiting our oceans. Where should one even begin to explore their fascinating traits? These highly intelligent animals are capable of executing bold escapes from aquariums. Remarkably, they possess a functioning brain in each of their eight arms!
Moreover, octopuses can blend into their surroundings by altering their skin's color and texture, or by concealing themselves under coconut shells. Their tentacles have the ability to detect light, and they are even known to deliver punches to fish out of sheer frustration.
Despite their significant anatomical variations, octopuses exhibit complex behaviors that are typically not associated with invertebrates—organisms that have evolved without a spinal column. My admiration for these eight-armed beings has compelled me to delve deeper into their extraordinary intelligence.
The Animal With Many Brains That Makes Us Rethink Intelligence
The octopus, along with its color-changing relatives, represents one of the closest examples we have of an alien-like intelligence.
Octopuses Use Their Tentacles to Feel Light
Because, after all, why rely solely on eyes?
Recent research has unveiled that female octopuses are not very tolerant of male harassment. Peter Godfrey-Smith from the University of Sydney, alongside his team, filmed these cephalopods interacting at Jervis Bay—a rare location abundant with octopuses. Their recordings revealed multiple instances of octopuses throwing shells and sediment at one another. Could it be that they are targeting specific individuals?
In a striking 2016 video, a female octopus was observed throwing silt at a male seeking to mate—a total of ten times. This observation led Godfrey-Smith to suspect that such throws might be deliberate, prompting further investigation.
When an octopus constructs a den, it will often toss out silt and seashells using its front two tentacles. Notably, any projectiles aimed at other octopuses were thrown from between the first and second tentacles on either side.
"It's quite rare—especially the act of throwing objects at members of the same species," noted Godfrey-Smith. Understanding these behaviors poses a unique challenge, as octopuses are fundamentally different from mammals and birds, which are usually considered intelligent. It is my hope that upcoming studies will unveil more about the captivating lives of these remarkable creatures.
Chapter 2: A Deeper Look into Their Social Dynamics
The second video title is "Female octopuses intentionally throw debris at harassing males" - YouTube, showcasing more evidence of these fascinating behaviors.
As a former graduate student and journalist with a background in neuroscience and microbiome studies, I invite you to explore more intriguing stories on Medium. You can subscribe for a membership to stay updated with my latest articles. My work can be found on Medium, Massive Science, Futurism, and Being Patient. For a bi-weekly roundup of my stories, feel free to sign up for my Substack.