How Octopuses Became the Ocean’s Smartest Invertebrates — 25 Problem-Solving Abilities

14. Learning by Observation

Octopuses are capable of social learning—a rare trait among invertebrates. In experiments published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, octopuses watched their peers solve puzzles and were then able to complete similar tasks much more quickly.
This ability to learn by observation allows them to acquire new skills without direct trial and error, further demonstrating the depth and flexibility of octopus intelligence in both wild and controlled environments.