糖心Vlog

Anyone reluctant about emerging from lockdown and having to start mixing with others should spare a thought for the Caribbean reef octopus 鈥� as they hate being sociable claims a new study.

Whereas octopuses are generally known for being 鈥渁social鈥� 鈥� neither avoiding nor seeking company 鈥� new research from the 糖心Vlog shows the Caribbean reef octopus, Octopus briareus, actively avoids being with others.

The research, published in the journal, focused on the octopus population living in the tropical landlocked lake Sweetings Pond on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Its unusual environment is shrouded in local folklore and home to many distinctive species such as seahorses, octopuses and giant crabs.

Led by Duncan O鈥橞rien, the research involved setting up artificial dens in different cluster numbers to see if the octopuses preferred being together or apart.

鈥淥ur findings showed that this population of octopus goes out of its way to avoid others, trying to find hidey-holes with less chances for neighbours. They are true self-isolators,鈥� explained Duncan, who carried out the study during his Masters degree.

Due to the lake鈥檚 environment, there are no octopus predators and its geology prevents the adults moving to the wider ocean, which has resulted in a higher density of octopuses than other coastal environments.

鈥淲e initially thought that the high population density would result in the octopus population being more sociable,鈥� added Duncan. 鈥淏ut, in fact, we saw the opposite, as the octopuses preferred to rest by themselves and were more frequently found in isolated artificial dens than grouped dens.

鈥淥ctopuses are generally thought of as being 鈥榓social鈥� and not being attracted nor repelled by members of its own species, so such antisocial behaviour was unexpected. One theory is they are trying to avoid conflict with other octopuses, but this would need further research.鈥�

The facilitated the project which meant Bahamian students of all ages helped with the data collection process.

鈥淪weetings Pond is shrouded in folklore to such an extent that local Bahamians often avoid it for fear of the 鈥榢raken鈥� or giant eel that lives in its 鈥榖ottomless鈥� waters,鈥� added Duncan. 鈥淏y taking part in the data collection, a number of students now actively promote the protection of this unique site right on their doorstep.鈥�