The animal world is full of fascinating examples of cooperation between different animal species: from cleaner wrasses that rid larger fish of their parasites, or birds from the drongo family that warn meerkats of predators, to octopuses that hunt together with fish. But what mechanisms of perception, learning or decision-making do animals need in order to cooperate with other species for mutual benefit?
To address this question, biologist Eduardo Sampaio from the Cluster of Excellence “Collective Behaviour” at the University of Konstanz (Germany) and the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior teamed up with comparative psychologists Alexandra Schnell (Cambridge University; UK) and Piero Amodio (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn; Italy). In their recent article in Current Biology, they explore possible cognitive foundations of cross-species social behaviour using the example of cooperative hunting in octopus and reef fish.
“Partnerships like these challenge traditional views of intelligence and cooperation in the animal kingdom,” says Sampaio. “From an evolutionary perspective, social complexity, problem solving and communication do not only arise within one's own group, but can also be shaped by the need to collaborate across species boundaries.”
A photo gallery on alliances in the animal kingdom, a video as well as further information on cooperative hunting of fish and octopuses is available in our online magazine campus.kn.
Key facts:
- Original publication: E. Sampaio, A.K. Schnell, P. Amodio (2025) Cognition in multi-species sociality. Current Biology; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.012
- An interdisciplinary research team investigates the cognitive foundations of cross-species cooperation
- All researchers involved are National Geographic Explorers
- Funding: National Geographic Society (Meridian Grant Program)
Note to editors:
A video is available here:
Link: https://youtu.be/uPFswbgyHc8
Caption: The yellow reef fish (top left in the video) signals to the octopus (bottom right) where the prey is hiding. The octopus then moves towards the hiding place.
Copyright: Eduardo Sampaio
Photos are available here:
Link: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2025_extra/tierische_allianzen_1.jpg
Caption: Some octopuses hunt together with different species of fish. The fish show the octopus the hiding places of potential prey. The octopus helps to flush the prey out of its hiding place, increasing the chances of a successful hunt for all members of the hunting party.
Copyright: Robert Delfs
Link: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2025_extra/tierische_allianzen_2.jpg
Caption: The cleaner wrasse feeds on the parasites of larger fish species. The larger fish tolerate the cleaner wrasse, as its feeding behaviour provides them with health benefits.
Copyright: Simon Gingins
Link: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2025_extra/tierische_allianzen_3.jpg
Caption: Honeyguide birds use their calls to attract the attention of humans and guide them to beehives in the area. Once the hive has been plundered by the humans, the honeyguide eats the remaining insects and wax.
Copyright: Dominic Cram
Link: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2025_extra/tierische_allianzen_4.jpg
Caption: Drongos, small passerine birds, forage with meerkats and warn them of approaching predators. Occasionally, however, they will deliberately mislead the meerkats to trick them into fleeing. The birds can then steal the food left behind by the fleeing meerkats.
Copyright: Bernard Gagnon/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Journal
Current Biology