Fascinating study shows octopuses prefer certain weapons when hunting

Octopuses prefer to use weapons when hunting prey, a new study suggests. The results aid in the design of biomimetic robots.

Octopuses are known for having eight arms. This is an octopus’ advantage against its prey. But unlike the octopuses in the movies that use most weapons, a study suggests that octopuses prefer to use weapons when hunting.

First off, what is an octopus?according to National Geographic, they are cephalopods with squid and cuttlefish. Celepahods or cephalopods have limbs attached to a person’s head.

Astonishingly, 300 species of octopus exist in the ocean so far.

Sizes up to 1/2 inch or 30 feet and weights up to 600 lbs.

• Despite their large size, octopuses are intelligent animals that have mastered the ability to camouflage to find prey and avoid attackers.
• They are also flexible and have a soft body, capable of penetrating an area no smaller than the body.
• Octopuses can regenerate arms lost in battle or attack.
• Octopus food is mollusk, crab or shrimp.

National Geographic Adds that the octopus can find a way to open the flip.

Research results

(Photo by Robert Cianflone ​​via Getty Images)

According to Trevor Wardill, who studies octopuses and cephalopods, it may be normal to observe that nothing is repeatable in octopuses. Wardill is also an assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences.

So he and his team looked at whether octopuses prefer or equally use each arm during hunting.Research “Octopuses prefer certain weapons when hunting and adjust tactics based on prey” also published in Science Daily.

based on rtelegraph, the researchers studied the California double-spotted octopus, which lived for about two years. They numbered the arms on either side of the octopus’ body. The octopus is said to be the size of a tennis ball.

Also read: Octopus ancestors are one of the earliest animals on Earth, dating back 509 million years!

Different types of prey, namely crabs and shrimp, were thrown into the tank while the octopus was hiding with its head up. After the experiment, the researchers found:

• Octopuses have been found to use the same side of the arm to observe prey.
• The researchers’ discarded prey showed that each octopus attacked with its second middle arm.
• When hunting crabs, octopuses use their second arm to quickly pounce on their prey.
• Shrimp fishing, on the other hand, revealed a different picture. Octopuses are more careful not to disturb their prey. The octopus grabbed the target with its second arm. It then uses its adjacent one and three arms to immobilize food prey.

The findings are fascinating. The study’s lead author, Flavi Biddle, explained that he was struck by the octopus’ use of a second arm. He said octopuses have unpredictable movements, but hunting behavior is repeatable. He is also a postdoctoral researcher.

The next step, Biddle added, is to study how the octopus’s neurons affect arm movement.

Robot Design

The research shows that the findings can aid next-generation research to develop highly maneuverable soft robots, such as underwater vehicles and soft robotic applications that aid in deep-sea exploration.

Also read: Octopus ancestors are one of the earliest animals on Earth, dating back 509 million years!

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