In Jervis Bay, Australia, scientists discovered a unique octopus community called Octlantis, where gloomy octopuses (Octopus tetricus) live together instead of being solitary as once believed.

These octopuses built dens using clam and scallop shells, creating a natural underwater “neighborhood.” At Octlantis, researchers observed surprising behaviors: octopuses mating, fighting, evicting rivals, and communicating through color changes and body postures.

What makes this site extraordinary is that it was completely built by the octopuses themselves using only natural materials. The study, published in Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, suggests these creatures show unexpected social organization and territorial awareness.

Octlantis challenges our understanding of octopus behavior and raises fascinating questions about the evolution of intelligence and community living in invertebrates.