'Octopus are known to become aggressive towards other octopuses, especially when competing for available dens or food sources. However, intraspecific competition among octopuses is not fully understood and has not been studied in detail. We selected two male octopuses of approximately the same size for this experiment. We decided to present Mario and Luigi with their favorite treats, a live crab and a crunchy shrimp, giving them both equal opportunities to claim their lunch. We anticipated visual contact, some trash talk in the form of color changing, and even physical contact involving arm wrestling. Would the outcome of the experiment depend more on the physical abilities of the two hungry and angry octopuses or would behavioral tactics also be a decisive factor?'
Tags: Food , experiment , fish , sea , food competition , cephalopods , octopus , intelligence , INTELLIGENT ANIMALS , competing , smart pets , animals compete , smart animals
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