For the first time researchers have captured octopuses throwing silt and shells at each other - on purpose.
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According to a study led by Peter Godfrey-Smith at the University of Sydney, roughly 10 gloomy octopuses, recorded in Jervis Bay in NSW, were found to have gathered debris and, on occasion, launch it several body lengths away.
"Wild octopuses project various kinds of material through the water in jet-propelled 'throws,' and these throws sometimes hit other octopuses," the authors said.
"There is some evidence that some of these throws that hit others are targeted, and play a social role."
The observations were made by analysing several days of footage filmed across 2015 and 2016 using underwater cameras.
A majority of the throws were performed by female octopuses, at 66 per cent, and about half of all throws happened when octopuses were interacting with each other, according to the University of Sydney study.
About 17 per cent of throws hit other octopuses, and octopuses that were hit were observed to duck and raise their arms at the thrower.
While you might think the eight-armed creatures would be putting those arms to use, the throws actually occurred by using their siphon, which can shoot water out at speed.
Researchers believe some of the throws were deliberate because the octopuses had to position their siphon to achieve the throws and some octopuses were observed to throw more forcefully when dark-coloured, which is associated with aggression.
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