Scientific American
Octopus ‘Teachers’ Demonstrate They Feel Emotional Pain
As a documentary about a cephalopod contends for an Oscar, a new study reveals the sophistication of the animals’ inner experiences
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An octopus nestles under a rock, but she’s still within reach of the shark following her scent. The shark bites down on one of her arms and rolls over again and again, twisting the limb trapped between its jaws until it detaches. The shark swims away with the arm in its mouth, spitting out sand and rocks acquired in the scuffle.
Where her arm used to be, the octopus has a stub of bright-white flesh. She retreats from the site of the encounter slowly and without her usual flair, almost crawling along the seafloor on her way back to her den.
Apr 23, 2021 10:55 AM EDT
A new study uncovers the sophistication of the inner experiences of animals, as a cephalopod documentary contends for an Oscar. According to the study, octopuses can feel physical and emotional pain.
(Photo : Getty Images)
The Attack
An octopus curls up underneath a rock, but she can still be located by the shark following her scent. The shark attacks one of her arms and rolls over, again and again, twisting the limb that was trapped between its jaws until it disconnects.
The shark then swims away with the arm of the octopus inside its mouth, spitting out rocks and sand obtained in the scuffle.
Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | Human World |
April 8, 2021
Image via Xu Wei Chao/ Shutterstock.
You’ve probably heard that fish have a three-second memory, or that they’re incapable of feeling pain. Neither of these statements is true, but it’s telling that these misconceptions don’t crop up for other vertebrates.
Perhaps it’s because fish appear so different from us. They don’t seem to have any capacity for facial expression, or vocal communication, and we don’t even breathe the same air. Collectively, these differences put fish so far away from humans that we struggle to relate to them.
(Photo : Pexels)
The aquaculture industry should concentrate on cultivating simpler species with less welfare and environmental threats, such as seaweeds and bivalves like oysters, mussels, and clams.
According to Franks, intelligent creatures such as octopus should not be farmed at all.
Over the last few decades, the global aquaculture industry has risen to a size of $250 billion (£182 billion). Aquaculture has been criticized for detrimental effects such as deforestation, reliance on wild fish for feed, and overuse of antibiotics. It was described as a response to the exploitation of wild fish stocks.
According to the report, health should be taken into account as well. Fish have long-term memory, can solve challenges, work with other animals, and sense discomfort, contrary to popular opinion. Octopuses and other cephalopods can solve puzzles, traverse mazes, and open jars. Crayfish display emotional behavior, such as fear and tension, and spiny lobsters have advanced navigati
Farmed fish suffer pain and stress, says report that criticises welfare failings theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.