If an intelligent marine species like the octopus evolved to live on land, what is the likelihood it would develop technology? (continued)
Robert Peck
York, UK
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While octopuses developing tool use may seem plausible, any octopus civilisation would, living underwater, be unable to access fire. This would potentially limit any of the technologies octopuses could develop to being pre-industrial, as, without fire, they would struggle to attain the temperatures needed for metal smelting and forging.
Coming out on to land briefly at low tide may provide a workaround here, as might accessing heat from deep-sea volcanic eruptions. The lack of an available heat source would also be a problem when considering if underwater extraterrestrial life, such as might exist below the ice on Europa, could ever become technically advanced.
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