An elaborate behavioural sequence reinforces the decoy effect of ink during predatory attacks on squid

Hikidi, Yuto; Hirohashi, Noritaka; Kasugai, Takashi; Sato, Noriyosi

doi:10.1007/s10164-020-00640-8

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Ink, which contains melanin, is an alarm cue causing antipredator behavior and flight in squid [91] but is also an antipredator repellent against fish [91,92]. In pygmy squid, blobs of ink are released as decoys and the squid turns pale, changes direction sharply and escapes [93], but ink can be used by the same species as a 'smoke screen'. Boal and Golden [94] found cuttlefish increased their ventilation rate to conspecific ink as well.…”

Section: Chemical Sensingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Octopus Consciousness: The Role of Perceptual Richness

Mather

2021

NeuroSci

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It is always difficult to even advance possible dimensions of consciousness, but Birch et al., 2020 have suggested four possible dimensions and this review discusses the first, perceptual richness, with relation to octopuses. They advance acuity, bandwidth, and categorization power as possible components. It is first necessary to realize that sensory richness does not automatically lead to perceptual richness and this capacity may not be accessed by consciousness. Octopuses do not discriminate light wavelength frequency (color) but rather its plane of polarization, a dimension that we do not understand. Their eyes are laterally placed on the head, leading to monocular vision and head movements that give a sequential rather than simultaneous view of items, possibly consciously planned. Details of control of the rich sensorimotor system of the arms, with 3/5 of the neurons of the nervous system, may normally not be accessed to the brain and thus to consciousness. The chromatophore-based skin appearance system is likely open loop, and not available to the octopus’ vision. Conversely, in a laboratory situation that is not ecologically valid for the octopus, learning about shapes and extents of visual figures was extensive and flexible, likely consciously planned. Similarly, octopuses’ local place in and navigation around space can be guided by light polarization plane and visual landmark location and is learned and monitored. The complex array of chemical cues delivered by water and on surfaces does not fit neatly into the components above and has barely been tested but might easily be described as perceptually rich. The octopus’ curiosity and drive to investigate and gain more information may mean that, apart from richness of any stimulus situation, they are consciously driven to seek out more information. This review suggests that cephalopods may not have a similar type of intelligence as the ‘higher’ vertebrates, they may not have similar dimensions or contents of consciousness, but that such a capacity is present nevertheless.

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Section: Chemical Sensingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Octopus Consciousness: The Role of Perceptual Richness

Mather

2021

NeuroSci

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“…Yuto Hikidi et al (2020). An elaborate behavioural sequence reinforces the decoy effect of ink during predatory attacks on squid (Volume 38, Issue 2, pp 155-160).…”

Section: Editor's Choice Awardmentioning

confidence: 99%

2020 Editor’s Choice Award and Editor’s Choice Articles

Nakata

2021

J Ethol

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“…Similarly, other animals, such as lizards (Fresnillo et al, 2015) and anuran tadpoles (Caldwell, 1982), have brightly coloured tails that also function as decoys towards which predator attacks are attracted. These coloration traits can be optimised and reinforced by specific behaviours, such as the active exhibition of the pattern that lures predator attacks towards less vulnerable body parts, or the synchronisation of such exhibition with the deployment of the concomitant defence (Stevens, 2005; Hikidi et al, 2020). Similarly, body size could affect the effectiveness of conspicuous colorations, as conspicuous individuals tend to be easier to detect at larger sizes (Mänd et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contextualising the bizarre: The integrated functioning of rib puncture as an antipredator defence in the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl)

Zamora‐Camacho

2022

Freshwater Biology

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Numerous prey traits are the result of the pervasive evolutionary pressure imposed by predators. Mirroring their fundamental role in the fitness of prey, some antipredator defences can evolve into elaborate strategies. Such is the case of the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), a semiaquatic urodele that inhabits multiple types of inland waterbodies in central and southern Iberian Peninsula and north‐western Africa. It possesses sharp, protractile ribs, which can thwart predators by emerging through skin ‘warts’ they pierce, becoming impregnated with the toxicants these warts produce, and making the newts difficult to swallow. Plus, the orange colour of these warts contrasts with the predominantly dull dorsum. In this work, I studied the interactions between the number of these warts, the saliency of wart colour against dorsum colour of each individual (i.e., the difference in colour between the warts and the dorsum), rib response time (i.e., the time needed for the ribs to emerge in response to a standardised stimulus), body size, and locomotor performance in males and females in either their aquatic or terrestrial stage. I also conducted a field experiment to determine whether predators more frequently attacked plasticine models with conspicuous or inconspicuous warts. I found that wart colour saliency functions as a decoy, attracting predator attacks towards this well‐protected body part. Plus, many of the antipredator defences studied, namely the number of warts, their colour saliency, rib response time, body size, and locomotor performance, were interrelated. Accordingly, more salient warts indicated a faster rib response, suggesting that these defences are coordinated with each other. Plus, locomotion was considerably slower in the terrestrial than in the aquatic stage. Moreover, warts were more salient, and thus more efficient attracting predator attacks, in newts in the slower terrestrial stage. However, rib response was faster in the aquatic stage, which coincides with the newt's activity peak, and therefore with the height of its conspicuousness to predators. Remarkably, faster newts display less salient warts and a slower rib response, which suggests a trade‐off between both defences. Nonetheless, some of these trends are reversed in females, among which faster individuals also display a faster rib response. This could be a likely consequence of reduced predation pressure. These results further the understanding of how prey integrate and tune multiple antipredator defences according to factors that influence predation pressure, such as sex and life stage.

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An elaborate behavioural sequence reinforces the decoy effect of ink during predatory attacks on squid

Cited by 8 publications

References 18 publications

Octopus Consciousness: The Role of Perceptual Richness

Octopus Consciousness: The Role of Perceptual Richness

2020 Editor’s Choice Award and Editor’s Choice Articles

Contextualising the bizarre: The integrated functioning of rib puncture as an antipredator defence in the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl)

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