A walking octopus with a coconut shell on its head looks very stylish!
The name Coconut Octopus sparks lots of ideas. Images of a giant octopus living on a tropical island swimming around among floating coconut shells might flash through your mind. Although this is not true, the truth is still mind-boggling and fascinating.
While chimpanzees have long been known to use sticks for termite fishing, the world of tool-making reached new heights with the remarkable abilities of the Coconut octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus. This intriguing creature utilises coconut shells, clamshells and discarded human containers such as tins. Let’s dive into the captivating world of the coconut octopus and explore its extraordinary skills.
The coconut octopus is found in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. Although it is rather small, around 15 cm (six inches) in length, this intelligent cephalopod demonstrates remarkable resourcefulness. The head alone measures approximately 7.5 cm (three inches) in length.
The fascinating creature demonstrates remarkable resourcefulness by using objects found on the ocean floor as a helmet or camouflaging device. Also, the intelligent octopus actively seeks different-sized shells, showcasing its ability to recognise the unique uses of each. The shell can be used as a protective shield from attacks, building material for shelter, and perhaps even, most fascinatingly, as an underwater vehicle when the octopus crawls into a shell and rolls inside it.
Witness the Coconut Octopus in action as it skillfully navigates the ocean floor with a coconut shell or clamshell perched on its head, resembling a stylish accessory that aids in its stealthy movements along the ocean floor without raising suspicion from predators.
A shell is also a perfect hiding spot for an animal using a passive hunting strategy. It provides a strategic vantage point for passive hunting, allowing the animal to observe its surroundings and swiftly seize opportunities for prey.ng tasty comes along.
This intelligent creature has inspired several biomimicry designs, such as soft-sensing robot arms. What ideas does the coconut octopus inspire?
A great starting point is to write a story about the inquisitive and smart coconut octopus. You can draw the octopus’s body and use Post-it notes to describe its fascinating skills and the biological strategies it uses to survive.
You’ll find the resources here , here or here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.