That's Wild: Scientists recently caught footage of octopuses throwing seashells at each other. Now these fascinating tentacled creatures may join a short list of other animals who’ve been recorded hurling stuff, probably for some kind of social purpose. About half the recorded throws happened during mating attempts or other inter-octopus interactions, and females were usually the assailants. About 17% of the octopuses hit their mark: a pretty good average considering how tough it is to aim under

In a fascinating glimpse into octopus behavior, researchers have documented female gloomy octopuses (Octopus tetricus) engaging in what appears to be deliberate projectile throwing — targeting other octopuses with shells, silt, and algae propelled by jets of water from their siphons. A peer-reviewed 2022 study in PLOS ONE analyzed around 21 hours of underwater footage from Jervis Bay, Australia (2015–2016), revealing dozens of these “throws,” especially during social encounters such as fights, a