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.

A rare video has captured octopuses hunting alongside fish, revealing an unexpected level of cooperation between the species. The footage, part of a study published in Nature yesterday, shows the social interactions of the octopus species Octopus cyanea,

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;

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.

An octopus will work with several different species of fish to find and catch prey - and punch those that aren't helping

Octopuses normally hunt alone, but footage captured by divers has revealed that they can collaborate with fish to find their next meal. The videos, described today in Nature Ecology & Evolution 1, show that the different species even adopt specific roles to maximize the success of joint hunting expeditions.