Octopuses Demonstrate Advanced Intelligence by Using Mirrors to Locate Hidden Food
Octopuses use mirrors to find food they cannot see

Image: Science Daily
A study from Dartmouth College reveals that octopuses can learn to use mirrors to find food hidden from their direct view, achieving a success rate of 73%. This ability, previously observed only in vertebrates, suggests advanced spatial cognition and may provide insights into the evolution of intelligence across species.
- 01Octopuses can learn to use mirrors to locate food, achieving a success rate of 73%.
- 02The research involved California two-spot octopuses (Octopus bimaculoides) trained to identify food hidden from direct view.
- 03Lead researcher Mary Kieseler emphasized that this skill was previously documented only in vertebrates.
- 04The study suggests octopuses may possess internal mental maps to navigate their environments effectively.
- 05Findings could indicate convergent evolution in cognitive processes across distant species.
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Researchers at Dartmouth College have discovered that octopuses can utilize mirrors to locate food that is not directly visible, marking a significant advancement in understanding their intelligence. The study involved training three California two-spot octopuses (Octopus bimaculoides) to recognize the location of food by using a mirror, achieving a success rate of 73%. This skill, previously seen only in vertebrates, showcases the octopuses' sophisticated spatial cognition. During the experiment, the octopuses learned to navigate towards a virtual crab image visible only through the mirror, demonstrating their ability to infer the actual location of the food. The lead author, Mary Kieseler, noted that this ability reflects a level of intelligence previously unrecognized in invertebrates. The findings suggest that octopuses may have developed internal mental maps, enhancing their hunting strategies in complex environments. This research not only highlights the advanced cognitive abilities of octopuses but also provides insights into the evolutionary pathways of intelligence across different species.
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