TikTok is going mad for ‘octopus cities’, but what are Octopolis and Octolantis?

Would-be marine biologists are losing their minds on TikTok, not over killer whales or great white sharks, but on what could very well be aliens from outer space: The majestic gloomy octopus.

The ocean is as mysterious as it is terrifying, but sometimes, it can just be a really cool place. Case and point, the anglerfish saga from earlier this year. The viral video showed the final moments of the sea creature’s life, and people went nuts with anglerfish deepdives, compelling theories, and comparisons to other odd stories about our water-dwelling neighbours.

Now, just six months later, there’s another deep-sea creature capturing the hearts and minds of people on TikTok: Octopuses? Octopi? You get the point, but basically, they’re building cities.

What are Octopolis and Octolantis?

Sharks get a bad rap as the killers of the oceans (when it’s actually dolphins), and orcas are trying to take down billionaires (which is completely fair), but octopuses are undoubtedly the unsung heroes of the seven seas.

Not only are they incredibly smart, as in solving human problems level of smart, but they’re the subject of countless conspiracy theories ranging from aliens from outer space to the creatures who will rule the Earth once we’re gone.

It’s not exactly proof of those conspiracy theories, but if you need convincing of the octopuses’ innate coolness, look no further than the Octopus cities, Octopolis and Octolantis.

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The first of the octopus cities, Octopolis, was discovered by marine researchers in 2009. Located in Jervis Bay, on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia, Octopolis contained the octopus equivalent of housing in the form of scallop shells. The city was set out in an ellipse shape and housed up to 16 gloomy octopuses at a time, despite being solitary creatures.

In 2016, researchers discovered a second city in the area, naming it Octolantis. Though not cities in the typical sense, researchers noted how the rare ecological practice highlighted the shocking ingenuity of the species. Not only were they essentially building homes to protect them from predators, but researchers witnessed them socialising, bickering, and even “evicting” one another.

Hold on, so why is it going viral now?

@joshallyn

I need a reality show about this ASAP #octocities #octopolis #octlantis #basementbiology

♬ original sound – Basement Biology

Considering Octopolis was founded in 2009, and Octolantis in 2016, you might be questioning why it’s suddenly boomed over on TikTok. It seems to be the result of a video posted by Josh Allyn, a wildlife biologist and content creator who was just as shocked as the rest of us.

“I’m kinda pissed right now. Was nobody going to tell me that octopuses are creating their own underwater cities?” he said in his post, which racked up 13 million views. “I had to find out through Instagram Reels. What the hell.”

People were just as enthralled in the comments, as one person wrote: “Everyone’s trying to go to space, NO we need to go to the ocean, we are missing out on stuff like Octopolis.”

“You mean to tell me we don’t have constant observation of these cities??? It’s been eight years! It has been so different now,” another pointed out.

Someone else wrote: “Secret Lives of Octowives has so much potential.”

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Featured image credit: TikTok