i for one welcome our new octopus overlords

[Neal Clayton]

so i'm sure some missed this, as it's a last-10-seconds blurb on only some newscasts, but octopus in the coastal waters around australia have become the first invertebrates that have been documented using tools.

the tools in question? coconut shells. apparently the locals while tossing the shells overboard after harvesting the good stuff noticed something running off with said shells. well, this creative octopus figured out that if he stole one of those shells, he could hide inside it. so he takes one and runs off with it, and he can either fill it with sand to make a camo cover or if something really wants to eat him, turn it upside down and crawl inside of it.

his buddy improved on that by stealing two shells, so that he can crawl in the first, then pull the other on top of it thus completely enclosing himself in coconut armor.

this of course conflicts with the generally accepted principle of invertebrates not being intelligent enough to use even rudimentary tools.

and of course if they can make coconut armor, we all know that they'll need weapons to pierce the armor in short order. maybe the impending zombie apocalypse that hollywood warns us of will turn into the octopus apocalypse? :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUN6c5yWJhQ

[Jim Koepke]

maybe the impending zombie apocalypse that hollywood warns us of will turn into the octopus apocalypse?

Octopusocalypse Now! coming soon to theaters near you...

jim

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Good grief you guys, don't give Hollywood any ideas!

[Roger Pozzi]

Good grief you guys, don't give Hollywood any ideas!
Why not :confused::confused:
It sure seems that lately they could use some. :p:p

[Mitchell Andrus]

Hermit crabs (also invertebrates) do this too. The real scientists are rolling their eyes at this 'discovery'.

Although.....

"What makes it different from a hermit crab is this octopus collects shells for later use, so when it's transporting it, it's not getting any protection from it," Finn said. "It's that collecting it to use it later that is unusual." The researchers think the creatures probably once used shells in the same way. But once humans began cutting coconuts in half and discarding the shells into the ocean, the octopuses discovered an even better kind of shelter, Finn said."

So, it won't be long before someone shows us a hermit crab tearing down a '64 Rocket 350 short block with a complete set of Mac tools.

Hermit crabs rule!!!
.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Octopusocalypse Now! coming soon to theaters near you...

jim


Too funny. Since Josiah Bartlet was term-limited out of office, all he has been doing of note is hanging out on SMC - am sure he is available to play Captain Willard again, but this time a Navy Captain.

[keith ouellette]

Hermit crabs (also invertebrates) do this too. The real scientists are rolling their eyes at this 'discovery'.

Although.....

"What makes it different from a hermit crab is this octopus collects shells for later use, so when it's transporting it, it's not getting any protection from it," Finn said. "It's that collecting it to use it later that is unusual." The researchers think the creatures probably once used shells in the same way. But once humans began cutting coconuts in half and discarding the shells into the ocean, the octopuses discovered an even better kind of shelter, Finn said."

So, it won't be long before someone shows us a hermit crab tearing down a '64 Rocket 350 short block with a complete set of Mac tools.

Hermit crabs rule!!!
.

If you ask me the hermit crab is a lot smarter. it found a much easier way to transport its protection around. It just wears it.

[John Pratt]

Hermit crabs (also invertebrates) do this too. The real scientists are rolling their eyes at this 'discovery'.

Although.....

"What makes it different from a hermit crab is this octopus collects shells for later use, so when it's transporting it, it's not getting any protection from it," Finn said. "It's that collecting it to use it later that is unusual." The researchers think the creatures probably once used shells in the same way. But once humans began cutting coconuts in half and discarding the shells into the ocean, the octopuses discovered an even better kind of shelter, Finn said."
.

If they save enough of them for later use, will we soon see one on an episode of Hoarders? (of course LOML thinks I should be on an episode of Tool Hoarders.)

[Mitchell Andrus]

If they save enough of them for later use, will we soon see one on an episode of Hoarders? (of course LOML thinks I should be on an episode of Tool Hoarders.)

1-800-Got-Too-Many-Tools?

I volunteer to drive the truck.
.