Name: How octopuses battle each other
Uploaded: 2018-06-11T16:23:42Z
Duration: 3 min 39 s
Description: Them's fighting words if you're an octopus, in that more than one octopus in a space often means a rumble. Our intrepid neuroscientists analyze aggression by observing the fighting behavior of two-spotted octopuses or, if you prefer, octopodes.

Greg Gage: How octopuses battle each other

How octopuses battle each other

Them's fighting words if you're an octopus, in that more than one octopus in a space often means a rumble. Our intrepid neuroscientists analyze aggression by observing the fighting behavior of two-spotted octopuses or, if you prefer, octopodes. 



Octopuses possess a half billion neurons, with most distributed throughout their arms, giving them extraordinary abilities. When two octopuses meet, their encounters follow distinct patterns—there is always an aggressor and a defender, and vibrant flashes signal escalation. Careful observation of these underwater face-offs uncovers rules and rituals that echo conflict behaviors seen in many animals, including humans. By studying octopus fights, scientists gain unexpected insights into both animal intelligence and our own biology.