10/09/2025
Researchers have discovered a unique gathering of gloomy octopuses (Octopus tetricus) in Jervis Bay, Australia, at a location they dubbed Octlantis. While octopuses are usually thought of as solitary animals, this group was observed creating shelters out of discarded shells, engaging with one another, mating, fighting, and even pushing rivals out of their dens.
What makes the site stand out is that it wasn’t formed by natural rock structures or coral but by the octopuses themselves, who piled up shells to build a kind of underwater settlement. The scientists noted that the animals seemed to recognize territories and used body language and color shifts to communicate, hinting at a level of social organization not typically associated with these creatures.
The findings, reported in Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, suggest that gloomy octopuses may live in more complex social groups than previously believed, raising new questions about how intelligence and cooperation evolve in animals without backbones.
