“Octopuses are a potentially best candidate for filling out an ecological niche in the post -human world,” he said.
The scientist noted that octopuses are one of the most intelligent, adaptable and resourceful creatures on Earth. Their ability to solve complex problems, communicate with each other with the help of flashes of color, manipulate objects and even disguise themselves with amazing accuracy suggests that in the presence of suitable environmental conditions, they could develop in a type that can create civilization after extinction of people.
“In a world where mammals dominate, octopuses remain an underestimated opponent. Their developed knowledge, the use of tools and the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions give a basis for the fact that the next reasonable view of the planet after people can arise,” he said. Kolson said that some individuals even run away from their aquariums in research centers at night, visiting the aquariums of their neighbors.
Among the advantages of octopus, he called dexterity. Also, these animals are able to distinguish between real and virtual objects, solve puzzles, interact with the environment, handle complex tools with the help of their tentacles, similar to thumbs, and live in various habitats – from deep -sea cavities to coastal areas.
At the same time, octopuses are unlikely to adapt to life on land due to the lack of a skeleton, which makes it difficult to quickly and deftly move from the water. However, they could potentially build underwater communities resembling cities of people. The scientist added that they may need hundreds of thousands or even millions of years to evolve before that. But theoretically, they could develop ways to breathe outside the water and ultimately hunt ground animals, such as deer, sheep and other mammals, said Kolson.
