Female octopuses fire defensive projectiles to intimidate aggressor males

Female octopuses in Australia have devised a new approach to stave off sexual harassment, by throwing blocks of shells and sand at male predators.

Researchers at the University of Sydney recorded footage of octopuses in Jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales, in 2015.

It wasn’t clear at the time whether the behavior was an attack on a competitor, accidental, or something else, as the octopuses throw mud and debris to get rid of food scraps and dig their caves.

However, earlier this month, analyzing the footage, researchers found that female octopuses deliberately throw their shells and mound them on other octopuses, and males often provide unwanted mating.

The researchers explained how female octopuses tucked algae, silt, small shells and other objects under the body with their tentacles.

She then placed her straws, which pass water to help her swim and steer, to shoot a jet of water at the tailings, turning them into projectiles that could land much further out of their reach.

In one incident, a female octopus threw mud ten times at a male from a nearby den who was trying to mate with her, however, the male was able to evade at least some of her attacks.