Octopus Punch other Coral Reef Fish while Hunting for Food

Octopuses "punch" fish while hunting to ensure that they get a their share of the food. Octopuses work with small groups of fish (often Groupers) to find and access prey on the reef. Just like kids, sometimes those groups break down a bit and don't work as well together as they'd like. Sometimes a fish is over zealous and eats something the octopus wanted - and that's when they might get punched.

Octopuses are generally not things we keep in our reef tanks - they really belong in the ocean unless you're willing to set up a tank specifically for them to meet their needs.

Also, today while working on this video I learned that the plural of Octopus is not Octopi - because the root word Octopus is Greek, not Latin, the plural is actually Octopuses. Sorry for being wrong in the video!

Also, if you want to learn more about Octopuses, check out My Octopus Teacher on Netflix!

Octopuses punch fishes during collaborative interspecific hunting events
Eduardo Sampaio, Martim Costa Seco, Rui Rosa, Simon Gingins
First published: 18 December 2020

Abstract
Cooperation is ubiquitous in nature, and occurs at all levels of biological complexity, providing immediate direct benefits and/or future indirect benefits to participating partners (Lehmann and Keller 2006, Bshary and Bergmüller 2008).

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[shyyuhway]

The fish are clearly fcking with it. If those fish don't want they faces punched they should give my boi some fkn space. They have a whole ocean after

[bloodvenomthestrongestoldh]

Fish: * swims and minding their own business *
Octopus: “GTFO my face sushi, this is my turf now”

[Cheek_Buster]

Fish: *steals food*
Octopus: *runs his fade*

[NorthStar]

The octopus is very intelligent and versatile. From what I have read, each one of their 8 limbs has a brain of its own capable of working together and independently. Think of it like an 8 core computer processor.

[mirrhonch]

Octopus: bro you taking all the loot and you ain’t even kill nobody

[into.the.wood.chipper.]

Fish about to be punched: "Meesa Jar-Jar Binks! Heu heu heu heu!"

[awesomekoga]

Fish: WTF?!!! He sucker punched me! Damn octopi are getting punchy!

[thefearlessone]

I think this video needs some jumpcuts. The long pauses are so awkward.

[rcsr]

Octopi are so interesting. I recently watch a documentary called “My Octopus Teacher.” Super cool stuff.

[oriongurtner]

Other fish: *f%in around*

Octopus: Ooooh they ‘bout to find out

[sirilak]

That octopus woke up and chose violence 😧

[Simplythetruthfulone]

Geez, I guess nobody's safe from a good ol fashioned bar fight!!😂🤣

[kiyokumabear]

I feel octopuses just punch out of frustration, the same way human children might dig at their faces or hit others when frustrated. It doesn't take much cognition to have anger or be violent, which is probably why it's also regarded as barbaric and stupid in modern-day society.

[jamesmcintyre]

Have you considered the possibility that maybe the octopus is just booping the other fish and not punching them?

[DEasy]

Someone get Snoop Dogg on this commentary. NOW!!!

[isaiahb]

I just watched my octopus teacher and now im here. Wow that was a really good film. Octopi are now my favorite animal

[kazemizu]

I’m going to go on a limb and say octopuses can feel spit. There was a report where some octopuses were being trained to pull a lever. One of the octopuses did not react well to it.

[Reality_withdrawls]

Are we sure the octopus aren't just casually trying to catch the fish? Like a low effort snag attempt?

[roygbiv]

“…wouldn’t you be annoyed if some other fish got your prey? Before you can eat it, someone gobbled it up?” Yeah, but nobody thinks it’s interesting or amusing when you punch a child.

[joetroutt]

Heard about this on my local sports channel. Of they were talking about the octopus speed bagging a shark. I want to see that vid.