The secret, colourful and dramatic lives of octopuses uncovered – video

Researchers reviewing more than 50 hours of footage of octopuses in Jervis Bay, New South Wales, discover a hitherto unknown complex social life. Among the discoveries published in Current Biology is the use of colour to display aggression. In this underwater footage three octopuses can be seen interacting, fighting and changing colours. Changing colour had been primarily considered a means to hide from predators - but here octopuses assume a darker colour before fighting. After one fight the loser can be seen turning a paler colour and camoflaging himself as he retreats