The underwater footage below reveals a surprising show of intelligence that has scientists both delighted and fascinated. Watch as a crafty veined octopus uses two halves of a coconuts as shelter. He plucks them up, tucks one half under one tentacle respectively, and goes running for the hills.
The team at Australia's Museum Victoria says this is first example of tool use in octopuses. One of the researchers, Dr. Julian Finn, told BBC News, "I almost drowned laughing when I saw this the first time. I could tell it was going to do something, but I didn't expect this — I didn't expect it would pick up the shell and run away with it."
Scientists describe the animal's strange movement as "stilt-walking," as it scurries away with its prized discovery. Almost human-like, he folds six of his tentacles around his body and uses the other two tentacles to walk upright. On this particular day, the octopus was especially lucky for finding not one but two coconut halves. This way, he can stilt-walk his makeshift shelter to the ideal location and sneak inside, using it as protection from nearby predators.
This isn't the first time we've seen an octopus exhibit such brilliance, and I have a feeling it won't be the last.
The world underwater never ceases to amaze me. If you agree, please SHARE this video with your friends on Facebook!
