It has long been put on that octopus ’ ability to shift color had grow as an evolutionary trait to help themavoid signal detection by piranha , although a new in - depth psychoanalysis of the behavioral responses to these changes of hue has revealed a rather unlike storey . According to a raw study in the journalCurrent Biology , some specie ofcephalopodmay line up their color to indicate their horizontal surface of aggression towards rivals .
Researchers used underwater television camera to notice the behavior of a species calledOctopus tetricus , and note that their agonistic interactions be given to be mediate by changes in colouration , as well as other types of body language . As such , the study authors reason that these display have more of a communicative function than had previously been thought , thereby shattering the estimation thatoctopuses are asocial .
In particular , they describe how sinister colors were associated with increased aggressiveness . consequently , whenever two octopus displaying a dark people of colour approached one another , press lean to break out , while light colored animals would retreat when confront by darker ones .
The investigator also outlined what they describe as a “ suffer magniloquent ” pose , whereby octopuses spread their web of tentacles out and evoke their mantle ( body ) . premature hypotheses have suggested that this behavior may represent an attempt to try a higher advantage point in ordination to gain a better view of incoming vulture or quarry . However , the study author note that this body position does not actually elevate the eye , and is therefore improbable to serve this intention .
Instead , they propose that this behavior is another form of signaling , project to “ enhance seeming size of it and increase conspicuousness . ” This , they paint a picture , provides a means of communicating their intensity to other octopuses for restrain them .
Summing up their findings , the researcher exact that “ we should no longer consider octopus as solitary and asocial or their body rule repertoires and behaviour as having evolved solely in the context of anti - predator camouflage . ” Rather , more focus should now be come out on trying to decipher the various ways in which they transmit with one another via body language .
