Some members of an octopus species hunt cooperatively in groups with fish, a new study found — an indication that some octopuses have richer social lives than scientists understood.

Some of these species are separated by over 550 million years of evolution, yet they can still organize and cooperate towards a mutual benefit. Both octopuses and fish increase their catch rates of crustaceans, fish, and molluscs as a result, the researchers determined using field experiments.

Despite generally being solitary animals, they can work with fish to find prey and recognise which team members aren't helping.That is the conclusion of a study of "hunting packs" that consist of a single octopus and several kinds of fish.

It's thought the arrangement helps both creatures - with the fish finding the prey, before calling on the octopus to capture it.

An octopus patrols a shallow reef, searching for food–and it’s not alone. A flurry of fish move alongside it, in a group hunting phenomenon observed in multiple marine locations around the world. Scientists have known that octopuses are smart;

Some members of an octopus species hunt cooperatively in groups with fish, a new study found — an indication that some octopuses have richer social lives than scientists understood.

Octopuses and fish are routinely seen working together on the ocean floor, and now scientists say that the cephalopods are the leaders of the pack.