In the nightmare scenario one animal would dominate without any doubt according to experts.
It is argued that they possess not only the mental capacity to create a new culture, but also the physical characteristics.
Professor Tim Coulson of the University of Oxford said their “dexterity, curiosity, ability to communicate with each other and superior intelligence” meant they could create complex tools to build a massive civilization that would resemble the descriptions of with Atlantis under water.
And although the octopus is almost unlikely to evolve into a full-fledged land animal, it is smart enough to “extend” its time out of the water to develop new hunting methods, he argued.
Professor Coulson, who is one of the world’s leading zoologists and biologists, said octopuses are now in an “advantageous position” to colonize the world should humanity become extinct.
Primates, long thought of as successors to humans, would face the same challenges as the human race and become extinct as well, he said. The professor said that octopuses – which can breathe for 30 minutes out of water – could, over millions of years, develop their own hunting methods on land in the same way that humans have in the sea.
That could include scuba-type breathing equipment to extend the time they can stay out of the water, he said.
Speaking to The European magazine, Professor Coulson, who was previously Professor of Population Biology at Imperial College London and held positions at the University of Cambridge and the Zoological Institute of London, said: “Octopuses are among the most intelligent, adaptable and resourceful creatures on Earth.
“Their ability to solve complex problems, manipulate objects, and even camouflage themselves with astonishing precision suggests that, given the right environmental conditions, they could evolve into a species that would create civilizations after humans disappeared. Their advanced neural structure, decentralized nervous system, and remarkable problem-solving abilities make octopuses well-suited to live in an unpredictable world.
These properties could allow them to exploit new niches and adapt to a changing planet, especially in the absence of human influence,” he stressed.
He added: “Of course, octopus dominance is entirely hypothetical: evolution is unpredictable and we cannot say with certainty what course it will follow in the event of human extinction.
The future of life on Earth is shaped by countless variables, and any number of species could rise to prominence. That said, given octopuses’ remarkable intelligence, adaptability and diverse range of survival strategies, it wouldn’t be the most far-fetched scenario to imagine them thriving in a post-human world.”
If humans become extinct, perhaps due to wars or climate change, most scientists agree that the creature that will “replace” us will have to be skilled. Without ingenuity, a species would not be able to develop complex tools to modify its environment and colonize the planet the way humans have.
Some birds, such as crows and parrots, for example, are highly intelligent and build communal nests that can last for decades. Several species of insects build complex towering structures, which resemble human civilization. But experts say neither birds nor insects are likely to fill the ecological role previously held by humans because they lack the dexterity of humans and octopuses.
