Yes, our own dear eight-legged denizen of the Swash Zone was recently caught on camera by Australian scientists using a human-discarded pair of coconut half-shells as temporary shelter. This is the first recorded use of tools by an invertebrate species (our companion's able keyboard-handling skills notwithstanding).
Watch:
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Watch:
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Ho hum (yawn) in the news indeed! Around here, we've always known our cephlapods are smarter than the average bear!
ReplyDeleteDon't let all this publicity go to your head, 8pus! :)
Big deal. My cousin Timmy has been doing this same thing for years.
ReplyDeleteZIRG, yes, but Timmy has never done it underwater, now has he.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Matt -- deja vu? Ahem, scroll down to Octo's post today. :)
(Just sayin'.)
Elizabeth: He has a little inflatable kiddy pool to play in while his handlers ready his meds.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Naw, ZIRG, it's just not the same, meds or no meds.
ReplyDeleteWhen we can watch Timmy run for his life underwater and on eight legs, no less, while carrying a coconut -- or at least half a barrel (for adequate proportions), then we can say big deal. Until then, I'm afraid, the octopus takes the cake (or the nut, as it were).
Elizabeth: Oh, Timmy has at least 8legs...and arms, and he's entirely boneless. Richard Matheson wrote a short story about him called Born of Man and Woman. He's a real looker. So doing it on dry land without the supporting weight of being completely immersed in water is a real accomplishment for him. The family is all so proud.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I admit being scooped. Then again, I am a bit behind in all correspondences and blogs.
ReplyDelete