New Study Reveals Octopuses Hunt with Fish, Enforce Cooperation with Punches

Footage from the Red Sea shows octopuses leading multi-species hunting groups and using aggression to maintain order.

Octopuses, traditionally seen as solitary creatures, have been observed hunting collaboratively with various fish species.
The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, highlights the complex social interactions and shared decision-making in these hunting groups.
Researchers recorded octopuses punching fish that failed to contribute to the hunt, ensuring all members participated effectively.
The cooperative hunting strategy, involving species like blue goatfish and blacktip groupers, increases the success rate of capturing prey.
This behavior suggests a higher level of social intelligence and adaptability in octopuses than previously understood.