Robot Communicates with Male Cuttlefish | Spy In The Ocean | BBC Earth

Like cuttlefish, our spy can communicate through patterns and colours in its skin. When our robot displayed patterns that would indicate it is a female, it attracted some male attention.
Spy in the Ocean is available on iPlayer in the UK and will be available on PBS in the US in the autumn.
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[@maggiejackson2160]

So. Like. We catfished a cuttlefish? For science?

[@mho...]

yeeeeeah science!

[@Hiiamsamm]

Science rules

[@jarcuadanantus28]

For science, you monsters.

[@YouLostTheGame777]

Exactly😂 how does this not have more likes

[@marshallrobinson1019]

Now, I'm wondering if the scientists had a fetish

[@haristahir3472]

Imagine fighting over a potential mate just to find out she is a robot.

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

Lol, internet chatbots and trolls have seen that for decades 😅

[@bruhbun]

I think some guys would fight harder if they knew it was a robot lol

[@Tao_Tology]

-Cat fished- Cuttlefished

[@Cara-39]

​@@Tao_Tology 🤣

[@doomi_nukem]

Still would smash

[@TheJackedOLantern]

"So... are you a girl or a guy?" "Affirmative." "hmm... I could work with that."

[@GetConfused8r0]

NUH UH📸📸📸💀

[@Epick_Wizard]

THEY ARE TURNING THE THE DAM CUDELFISH GAY!!!!!

[@danp8321]

I have a mental image of a clothes store dummy sitting in a night club with a hidden audio player inside saying "HELLO BABY", and a group of guys try to attract her attention while hidden somewhere a team of cuttlefish watch the whole thing via a hidden camera

[@TimeTheory2099]

Visually descriptive. 👽👍

[@annag707]

😂😂😂😂

[@kas8ia]

most human males would fall for that

[@elijahtronti8574]

The other cuddle fish be like: “don’t do it bro, it’s a bot”

[@blucat4]

Lol, just like me on Twitter!! 😂

[@mho...]

maybe he wanted to know "if it vibrates" 😱

[@blitheringrando1410]

But there's a hot squid ready for love in your area 😂

[@kimbrey65]

That was so interesting to watch. You'd never think that you would ever see a "living" working robot cuttlefish, that even goes so far as attracts a mate. I'm floored!

[@user-up3dd1vw6b]

Depressing to know even cuttlefish gets functional sex bots now but not us

[@RageOfTheTiger]

They are such amazing animals. And the robot spies are so advanced, I love it

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

In most species, it's not very difficult to destract a male 😂

[@lucpraslan]

You need to become gay lol 😆😆

[@blucat4]

@@user-up3dd1vw6b Not that functional, all show no action!!

[@tatsusama3192]

Sometimes, while watching these amazingly well made animal cameras, I think, "What if aliens have been doing this to us for years?" Then I remember Zuckerberg exists. . .

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

Social Media would be a great way to learn about humans...maybe not the best aspects of humans...but ...

[@omri9325]

Zoidberg's brother

[@rogerwilco2]

Indeed. Facebook is an alien spy network.

[@AdamBechtol]

:p

[@lindaseel9986]

Bawahahaha! 😅😅😅😅

[@louspowels7120]

that cuttlefish just got catfished

[@Yes_yep_yeah]

But no worries, there are plenty more fish in the sea.

[@monster2marz740]

That robot would've fooled me

[@Viruss627]

Until u see the eye..

[@bruhbun]

I kept looking for the robot lol. But yeah once I saw all the weird robot pieces, it's hard to accept that I was fooled by it at all lol.

[@harrellt1405]

Did you fall in love with it too.

[@tyrannosaurus_wex]

Birds aren't real

[@ayoolukoga9829]

And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. Daniel 2:43

[@watrgrl2]

Oh my word! Whoever designed that robot cuttlefish is a genius!

[@blucat4]

It took me a few moments to realise that it was a fake! I thought, what the .. they've put a plastic shell over a cuttlefish? How mean!! 😄😄

[@helentrenor4655]

I guessing it would involve a whole Research Team of robotics engineers, submersible experts, IT geeks, marine biologists - and more - to develop these robots. Brilliant series of programmes from the BBC! I hope you're able to watch the whole thing.

[@haidermoyedm3901]

But who designed the original cuttlefish????

[@blucat4]

@@haidermoyedm3901 That which is beyond all human understanding. Do not talk about what you DO not, or CAN not, know.

[@haidermoyedm3901]

@@blucat4 what

[@whitbyabbey4830]

He went from "You wanna go🤬?!" to "You wanna go somewhere?😘"

[@Yotop-ch3wc]

We over here breakin’ REAL Cuttle Fish’s hearts 😢

[@mho...]

for science!

[@Fhiggsy]

Haha… I hope it was worth the discovery…for science 😏

[@Foxy81824]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@valkylva]

From what I observed I think the real cuttlefish knew the robot was different and was trying to figure out if it was male or female by displaying patterns and behaviors of a male first and female second to see how the robot would react. I believe this was a way to figure out what exactly the robot was.

[@jaynenunya6070]

69th like

[@curlyhairdudeify]

Try explaining that to modern "gender theory" human-bots.

[@kas8ia]

@@curlyhairdudeify did you get triggered over something?

[@hopefullyhelping6664]

@@curlyhairdudeifyAnimals don’t have gender, you freako. Humans do.

[@LordVader1094]

​@@kas8iaNah he's just pointing out the obvious lol

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

This was utterly impressive. So hard to interpret, and such complex communication. Trying to bridge our speech to their color patters will be a titanic effort!

[@Aerational]

I sincerely hope an effort will actually be made at this.

[@werwardas1]

Ai will definitely help to achieve this goal in a not too distant future!

[@N1ghtH4wk86]

Imagine trying to communicate with aliens, from a completely different plane

[@TriXJester]

​@@N1ghtH4wk86 you bring up an interesting point, its completely likely that an alien species could evolve in a way that they communicate like cuttlefish. As a character designer I have a lot of ideas that come to mind what that alien could look like, its pretty fun to imagine

[@griffyt209]

I went to the aquarium once and a teeny little baby cuttlefish came up to the glass to say hi, and followed my finger all around as I traced on the glass. I have been totally obsessed with them ever since ❤

[@AmbientDawn]

Cuttlefish are one of the most incredible creatures. I could watch them for hours. So calming.

[@eventerminator1382]

I never expected to see someone catfish a cuttlefish

[@catatonicbug7522]

Why is this not an hour-long documentary, including how it was built and deployed and the analysis of the results!!??

[@acatfrompoland5230]

What ever results they got from this are not going to be interesting enough for an hour long documentary 😅

[@jay31415]

Because the TikTok generation has a 5-minute attention span. (^Thanks commenter above for backing up my point here.)

[@jaynenunya6070]

this is a clip from a longer doc

[@MarianadeOliveiraSaitu]

I'm pretty sure there is an article somewhere about this experiment. We just don't know the name of it, or who was responsible. But maybe in the documentary credits there is some more info.

[@ramdom_player201]

This is a part of a much longer series in which they make lots of different animatronic spy animals to insert into different animal communities.

[@playwithyourfood1962]

Lol imagine going back home then everyones like “Hahaha Larry made out with a sex doll cuttlefish!”😅

[@explorer.samrat]

This footage seems like a world of fantasy... straight out of a Disney movie...too beautiful to be real... incredibly captured and documented. 😊😊

[@ab-uo6rd]

The quality of footage, the calm voice of the narrator combined with the absolutely stunning scenes you guys manage to capture. I cant imagnine how much time and effort it takes to get such pictures, but I guess the robot gives a glimpse of that. I just love BBC Earth and what you guys are doing, greetings from Germany.

[@MusiicRoolz]

it's David Tennant, the narrator

[@GosieKin]

​@@MusiicRoolzI can easily imagine he took himself down there in the T.A.R.D.I.S., grabbed one of his TimeLordy toys and trolled the heck out of some cuttlefish - all he for the benefit of his companion/cameraman 😉

[@nodsib]

Definitely could have titled this “Love, Cuttlefish and Robots”

[@kmtproductions8740]

The cuttlefish got catfished..it got cuttlefished!! ..😅

[@coachmcguirk6297]

*cattlefished

[@ListenAndWhisper]

Imagine being the real cuttlefish at first thinking it’s another dude so you provoke him, upon feeling it’s hard non-fleshy body it suddenly looks like a girl. Id be intrigued too

[@lucpraslan]

You're not gay, or bisexual, you're cephalo-sexual 🦑

[@rharris22222]

"I'm telling you guys, it was an alien from above. Either that, so some kind of demon! I'm lucky I didn't get abducted!" -coast to coast with Kuttlefish Bell

[@ingeetpal2366]

"Hey baby girl what's up?" "Oh hey baby girl" 😮

[@htomerif]

You really nailed the deafness inducing volume there at the end.

[@WisperArt]

playing with the man's feelings :(

[@harbs_cantina]

The way these creatures change colour so quickly never ceases to amaze me.

[@moomoo-bv3ig]

Robot cuddlefish with changing color patterns. Who would have guessed! I love science 😍

[@roybm3124]

Wow what an amazing robot, now im curious how it’s made.

[@bicyclethief]

mankind taking catfishing to another level

[@joshriley2936]

The cuttlefish was like "Oh, so I guess this isn't a male, but a tomboy. Intriguing."

[@coltonadkins7929]

I want a cuttlefish so bad but they're so smart you can tell they know they're captured

[@rabidL3M0NS]

Okay… maybe shapeshifting aliens really do live among us.. to catfish us… damn sexy Decepticons.

[@alanatolstad4824]

The little 'tease'!

[@mae5096]

It just makes it all the more magical it sounds like David T is the one vocalizing this incredible advancement. In awe all around

[@YogiDanananda]

It is! I looked it up as soon as I heard his voice.

[@gio17gt]

Fighting over a sex doll is crazy

[@christopheryoung3850]

The 3 basic responses 1. Can I eat it; 2. Can it eat me; & 3. Can I copulate with it....I think our male Cuttlefish friend was gping with option 3...lol😂😅😊

[@finneganfox6470]

I legitimately thought the cuttlefish on top was about to try mating with the robot. I had no idea it was an "attack" !

[@mho...]

their only sharp weapon is their Beak, so bringing your weapon close to the unprotected parts of "someone" sure doesnt seem friendly!

[@davisdesigns1153]

This takes catfishing to a whole new level

[@Widderic]

Stunning visuals on display here. The pearlescent rainbow setting is my favorite. Awesome creature, and obviously sentient.

[@origamiswami2275]

I just love cuttlefish - they're so cold and cuttly.

[@user-qo6ds1jm7g]

And there are people say no body create those wonderful creations

[@demus89]

Good to know we are out here blue balling cuttlefish

[@Laurencita]

It just amazes me how these animals change colors when they’re thinking. It reminds me of the video I saw where an octopus was sleeping and while they were dreaming the skin on their head turned so many different colors. There is a lot we don’t understand. These animals must be far more advanced than we are. Just because they don’t own houses or use money it doesn’t mean they are not sentient and intelligent; in fact, I’d argue that they are much smarter than we are because they are actually free whereas we’re ruled by money and jobs.

[@armcollector5856]

Couldn't agree more they are utterly amazing... I think I also saw, where octopus ( not sure if the cuddle fish can as well ) but they also can change their texture ( in a second ) just as their color changes. Plus I believe if octopus lived longer we could actually see their skill set & see whatelse they can do as years go on, they're so amazing that I would love to see if they lived long enough what they really could teach us, such a shame we don't get to tho, not to mention the cuddlefish are so beautiful imo as well as an octopus, I mean why keep trying to go to space & not tell us crap anyways lol, go in the deep blue & we will see things I'm sure that we've NEVER seen before!

[@Laurencita]

@@armcollector5856 absolutely! Cuttlefish are gorgeous. I’m glad there are others who share in the same wonder like I do.

[@Laurencita]

@@armcollector5856 also I think it’s so interesting how we’ve explored more of outerspace than we have our own oceans!

[@armcollector5856]

@@Laurencita I agree... I mean at least we can have a better chance in the ocean than space... but honestly I kinda wish they'd leave the ocean alone, they already is things that fisherman ( the ones that fish deep like in china as well ) but they so happen to "accidentally" have all these amazing & wonderful creatures we've never seen before, and their is so many ppl now over fishing ( like in china ) we won't have no more cool animals left. Just like the rainforest, when I saw they cut half of it down already it's so sad ( so many beautiful creatures ) and gorillas are my favorite, I would be so so sad if they ever dissapeared, but thank God I guess they are in protected areas now. Anyways hope u have an amazing day & wonderful weekend as well!!

[@ColdNorth0628]

Get out of your rear. Seriously they are good problem solver but saying they are way more advanced than us is just overrating them. Also most animals are sentient, not all animals are sapient. Also intelligence being rated by money and jobs is stupid and your idea of rating is equally as dumb.

[@RD9_Designs]

I love David Tennant's voice!

[@Romanticoutlaw]

most wildlife decoy robots look really obvious and stiff and lifeless to me, but it took until the closeup for me to even be sure that one was the robot. Impressive stuff

[@asherroodcreel640]

Too stiff, but my hands have been squided before

[@beulaho]

Will a clip of the octopus with 15 impersonation tactics also be shared? This show has been absolutely marvelous so far and I can't get enough!

[@Cara-39]

This series, Spy in the Ocean, is currently airing in the UK and will be available in the US in the fall.

[@Aerational]

Oh he DEFINITELY likes the feel of whatever material they used to make that xD 2:45

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

First contact with an alien mind? I think Jethro down in the bayou with his duck call would like to challenge that.

[@Axqu7227]

This is like if someone built a walking mannequin with a speaker in it that yelled “YOU WANNA FIGHT” and “Yeah I’m a lady, just chillin” in alternate minutes

[@multienergico9299]

These kind of videos make you wonder if your partner is actually a robot sent to you from outter space to study your reproduction process

[@lucpraslan]

Check your partner's underpants for a robo-clitoris and/or robo-schlong.

[@Cara-39]

Amazing! I loved Spy in the Wild and can't wait for this version to air in the US!

[@poochieg7064]

It already does! I've seen it many times in the Northeastern USA on XFINITY CABLE SERVICE! NOT this exact episode but many others! 🤔NATGEOWILD I THINK IT WAS OR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS. THEY RUN NATURE AND SCIENCE SPECIAL PROGRAMS!👍👍😁👏👏👏👏👏

[@Cara-39]

@POOCHIE G Yes, the original Spy in the Wild series has been out in the US for a few years and it's great; I've watched it multiple times. This new version, Spy in the Ocean, is currently available in the UK but doesn't air here in America until the fall.

[@poochieg7064]

@@Cara-39 I'll watch it for the 4 months on KZbin till the fall. Thanks for the update! 😁 👍👍

[@BombshElle_7]

"Horrifying beautiful" is the only way I can describe cuttlefish.

[@kharmachaos667]

I love how this is the equivalent of the the cuttlefish going👀 👌 👈❔️ and the robot going 😳 👌 👈

[@Misskittenfish71]

Cuttlefish just wants to cuddle 😊

[@brajlecz9485]

Gotta love the deafening music at the end tho.

[@AndreaCuchetto]

I want a bodysuit that reacts in like manner with my environment.

[@lucpraslan]

Investigate the joys of S+M. Your body will change colour when you're being flogged in a different environment 👍🏻

[@Hiiamsamm]

Nope only your period

[@AndreaCuchetto]

@@Hiiamsamm - duh

[@Hiiamsamm]

@@AndreaCuchetto kidding fyi

[@TzadikTheManic]

Ultimately he just wants to cuttle☺️

[@Maryam092]

I just love Animals . Oceananic as well as Of Land ❤

[@gabos7892]

Cuttlefish gets Catfished 😂

[@rosemimi973]

0:43 his „well hello there“ look…😂

[@xrpuertorican4472]

Truly one of the most beautiful animals in the world.

[@Life_42]

I love life on Earth so much!

[@007lisle]

The Cuttlefish be like.... I fell in love with a robot.. hahah

[@vivian3829]

Que hermosura de colores 🥰🥰 Nuestra naturaleza marina es maravillosa🤗 que interesante filmación los felicito👌👌😉👍

[@user-ck9lk6zm3h]

that cuttlefish just got catfished. That robot would've fooled me.

[@hoviksmail]

🦑: "You hear Bill had sex with a robot." 🐙: "I always knew that guy was weird."

[@johnnyonthespot4375]

This is why us attempting to talk to an Alien from another planet is just goofy. We can't even communicate with a fish on THIS planet. 🤓🐟 (?!)

[@hobgob8196]

A cephalopod

[@-lirif-1783]

It’s all about babysteps, bro

[@SOULRELIEF22]

I love you so MUCH! 🙏🏼🙌🏼✝️❤️

[@peterbiesbroek]

One day we will communicate with these strange animals, or maybe, they'll even find a way first

[@achillesglacia7700]

Intelligent life as they say. I don't think fish count, imagine if they found a herd of red zebras on Mars, but all they wanna do is eat dirt, would that count as first contact?

[@stardust4987]

Such amazing creatures.

[@teegees]

Hats off this was absolutely amazing.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

These “robot” videos are amazing

[@TimeTheory2099]

Thanks BBC earth 👍 I'm hoping i can find a full version of this fascinating experiment.

[@eluna_mae]

Amazing! I find cuttlefish communication so fascinating.

[@Gabistruwwelliese]

Nature is absolutely amazing!

[@InVinoVeratas]

Catfishing a cuttlefish for a cuddle 🐟 🤗

[@christoferding]

This is how human being deceive a fish, literally.

[@FishTankEnjoyer]

They're putting robots in the water, turning the frickin cuttlefish gay.

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

Cuttlefish are the most amazing creatures. The way humans treat them is vile.

[@DrCureAging]

it's like 'NOOO STOP BEING ORANGE YOU'LL GIVE AWAY OUOR LOCATION""

[@3g0st]

The colors are astounding, make me tear up a little lol

[@lieutenant_rtda2234]

First pattern: "Ayo bro, this my part of town" Second pattern: "Sheesh, didn't know you were chill like that, let us now commence mating" Bro changed teams so fast

[@strikezero01]

Male cuttlefish into robot girl cuttlefish some culture, even beneath the wave

[@sbeast64]

Interesting creatures, and such great footage!

[@Statsy10]

This is astounding!

[@MylotheZooLovingScientist]

Cuttlefish are utterly and endlessly fascinating. And to think we're so curious about the existence of extraterrestrials! We need only venture under the waves to find alien life forms. What I'd give to know what goes on in their minds, and to experience that wonderful color / pattern communication through their senses. What an awesome robot-so interesting to see how the animals react to and interact with it!

[@thedoctoradvocate8251]

I think we're so interested in alien lige because it would help us answer a lot of questions about evolution and the inception of life

[@peamutbubber]

Read children of time

[@mistermysteryman107]

It’s a shame they only live for a year.

[@pikapi7429]

I love cuttlefish . when I went to TN aquarium they had them there and these little fish are the cutest . they follow you around with big eyes and curiosity haha

[@nillyk5671]

The blue male cuttlefish is beautiful

[@tsukuyomisama001]

They are so beautiful

[@steviegroovie]

What beautiful and amazing creatures oh my lord

[@thehigherbrilliance]

That boi getting that cuttlefish head

[@spacenerd9499]

Mesmerizing! Pretty cool robot!

[@christianh1697]

I bet I’m not the only one who was thinking mid way if aliens do this kinda stuff to us lol

[@BriceKoua-11-11]

He's like are you okay bro?

[@KateeAngel]

Seems like all animals, from humans to cuttlefish, react the same to bots which are similar to their own species 😂😂😂

[@krykry606]

By this point, BBC Earth is "the channel that makes those weird animal drones".

[@TheYeowyap]

Cuttlefish: "You donw?" Robot Cuttlefish:"Yep..." (showing pattern on back....)

[@patrickhouchins9074]

Cuttlefish and asparagus

[@Seattle-ish]

Cuttlefish are my favorite marine species 😍