Scientists Discover Octlantis: Octopuses’ mysterious underwater city where they build homes and neighbours

Underwater Cities of Octopuses Discovered Off Australia’s Coast (Image: @hamedzendex/X)

Octopuses had been regarded as solitary, secretive predators for decades. They merged into their surroundings and stayed away from other animals. More recent studies, however, bring to light a more communal aspect. Certain octopuses can assemble, socialise, and even construct communal dwellings.

What is Octlantis and how do octopuses live there?
Off Jervis Bay in southeastern Australia, scientists discovered a bustling octopus community. They filmed gloomy octopuses interacting closely at a site nicknamed Octlantis. As many as 15 were observed copulating, battling, and knocking each other out of dens. Researchers watched them communicate through body positioning and construct shelters out of shell trash. This challenges the belief that octopuses always live in isolation. The dens function as living spaces and protective shelters against predators.

Are there other underwater octopus cities?
Octlantis is not unique. In 2009, a nearby site called Octopolis was discovered. There, octopuses gathered around a large human-made object, likely decades-old metal. The cephalopods built dens and arranged shells, sculpting their environment for habitation. Stephanie Chancellor, a study co-author, described them as “true environmental engineers”. These structures serve as both homes and protection from predators.

Number 3: They sometimes build underwater Octopus city which was named ‘Octlantis’ off the coast of Eastern Australia. It was populated by a specie called Gloomy. Complex social behaviors was observed amongst 15 of them. Another city was discovered in 2009 named Octopolis. pic.twitter.com/ATVHfTKg5R

— ZENDEX 💸 (@hamedzendex) July 22, 2023

Why do octopuses cluster in such risky areas?
Professor David Scheel from Alaska Pacific University says shelter drives their gatherings. Food may be abundant, but safe housing is scarce in these areas. Predators are abundant and protection is therefore necessary. The groups are not always peaceful but they form defensive groupings around dens. The scientists observed some octopuses to be more active than others. They reorganised shells, dominated, or looked around. These behaviours are difficult to observe because of short dives and low lighting. Octopuses excel at camouflage, often changing colour to merge into surroundings.

These findings unveil octopuses as more social and sophisticated than previously imagined. They can construct homes, deal with neighbours and protect their domain. As scientists keep uncovering, further knowledge of these underwater metropolises is anticipated.