Octopus Takes Camera for a Joyride (Video)

Watch this unusual video shot while a camera, still recording, is stolen by an octopus from a scuba diver.

As the diver was trying to film it, the octopus extended a tentacle to grab the camera, and swam away with it in hand. The diver then chased the octopus for five minutes to retrieve the camera, during which time it mostly filmed the octopus’ tentacles.

Finally, the diver “offered” a speargun to the octopus, which quickly took hold of it, giving the diver a chance to retrieve the camera.

But then the octopus held fast to the speargun, so the diver decided to let it take a ride on the speargun while he continued his dive.

Octopuses are known for their intelligence, and are among several different animals that have been documented to use tools.

In a similar incident this summer, a crested black macaque appeared in the news for stealing a camera from a photographer and taking pictures with it, including a self-portrait.

• http://twitter.com/MargeryD Margery Dunn

  cheeky octopus