I may have immediately imagined a ‘Sharky and George’ metropolis but the truth is still pretty amazing.
The gloomy octopus species (Octopus tetricus) are usually described as isolated and solitary creatures, maybe that’s why they’re so gloomy, but this is the 2nd discovered ‘city.’
Octlantis is made up of dens built out of sand and shells, and home to up to 15 of individuals. The octopuses were seen meeting up, living together, communicating with each other, chasing unwelcome octopuses away, and also evicting each other from dens.
We usually think only vertebrates behave so socially which makes Octlantis such an interesting place to study.
ART STUFF
Usually my science illustrations are pretty simple but I really enjoyed painting this and it became a bit more detailed. I was also asked (begged) by Dan to leave off my usual thick black lines. I’m still unsure if it’s better or not!
The research has been published in Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology.