Possible Tool Use in an Invertebrate Species...Very interesting. =^_^=

[ampris2007]

Aussie scientists find coconut-carrying octopus

Comments

incorrect: first evidence of tool use by invertebrates

[anonymous]

"...the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal."

WHAT? Ants, hermit crabs, caddisflies, and wasps use tools. I really hope they were misquoted. This makes no sense. The use of tools by other invertebrates has been well documented.

Here are some references, just a few examples:

http://people.uleth.ca/~dan.johnson/invertebrates-tools.htm

Re: incorrect: first evidence of tool use by invertebrates

[ampris2007]

Oh, I know. It is still an interesting article though. I figure it's rather like when they say that only chimps are known to use tools and then totally ignore otters breaking mussels with rocks, even though that's at least as complex as sticking a twig in a termite colony. Mayhaps in this case it refers to learned tool use instead of instinctual tool use? Octupi seem to constantly be surprising people with their ability to learn...especially what with the lack of a vertebrae, as though that were the defining factor for brainliness...lol.=^_^=

Who is this?

Re: incorrect: first evidence of tool use by invertebrates

[ampris2007]

They also do specify that the octupi modify the shells for use and seem to plan ahead by not using it as shelter immediately, but carrying it to where they want it first. It makes it a more complex behavior. Still, I have often wondered exactly when it breaks from cool action to tool use, such as in the case of otter tools vs. chimp tools.