Harry R. Schwartz

A new study found that the veined octopus is able to use a coconut shell as a protective shield.

An octopus would dig up the two halves of a coconut shell, then use them as protective shielding when stopping in exposed areas or when resting in sediment.

This, on its own, astonished the team. Then they noticed that the octopuses, after using the coconut shells, would arrange them neatly below the centers of their bodies and “walk” around with the shells—awkwardly.

Horrible as cephalopods are, these little guys running around with their coconut shells are actually kinda cute.