New research from the Red Sea reveals that octopuses may have a surprisingly sophisticated social side — including the tendency to punch fish that aren’t pulling their weight during cooperative hunts. Scientists observed octopuses teaming up with multiple fish species to locate hidden prey, with helpful fish scouting crevices and signaling where food was hiding. But when certain fish species appeared to linger around hoping to benefit without contributing, the octopuses responded with forceful jabs to push them away. Researchers say the behavior suggests octopuses can organize and manage multi-species hunting groups, challenging the long-held view that they are strictly solitary animals. Read the full story at Smithsonian
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