Octopus mimicking its follower reef fish

Krajewski, João Paulo; Bonaldo, Roberta M.; Sazima, Cristina; Sazima, Iván

doi:10.1080/00222930802450965

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The dorsal mantle of the cuttlefish would correspond to the gastropod shell of a hermit crab. Several previous studies have reported that octopuses are able to impersonate other animals (Hanlon et al 1999; Hochberg et al 2006; Huffard 2007; Hanlon et al 2008; Krajewski et al 2009; Hanlon et al 2010). A mimic octopus, Thaumoctopus mimicus , is the most well-known example of this, and has been suggested to impersonate various venomous animals, such as a poisonous sole, sea snake and lionfish (Norman et al 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Unique arm-flapping behavior of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis: putative mimicry of a hermit crab

Okamoto

Yasumuro

Mori

et al. 2017

J Ethol

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Cephalopods are able to control their arms sophisticatedly and use them for various behaviors, such as camouflage, startling predators and hunting prey. Here, we report a previously undescribed arm-flapping behavior of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis, observed in captivity. S. pharaonis raised the first pair of arms and wrinkled the parts near the distal end, where the skin color was darkened. Additionally, S. pharaonis spread the second and third pairs of arms and bent them as if they were jointed, and flapped the distal ends. S. pharaonis showed this behavior in two different situations: after being introduced into a large space, and during hunting. We discuss the putative functions of this behavior, including possible mimicry of a hermit crab, considering the situations in which the behavior was observed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10164-017-0519-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Unique arm-flapping behavior of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis: putative mimicry of a hermit crab

Okamoto

Yasumuro

Mori

et al. 2017

J Ethol

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“…The octopuses also used uniform dark instead of dorsal light-ventral blue green when swimming in deeper water, given that there is less visibility for distinguishing detail. Krajewski et al (2009) also observed that O. insularis performed schooloriented mimicry while swimming near a group of small groupers in deeper water in Fernando de Noronha. The pattern observed on these occasions is also a deceptive resemblance pattern (longitudinal dark and white stripes), described not only for these species, but also for O. vulgaris (Hanlon and Messenger 2006).…”

Section: Foraging Strategy Versus Body Patternmentioning

confidence: 73%

Octopus insularis (Octopodidae), evidences of a specialized predator and a time-minimizing hunter

2009

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Shallow-water octopuses have been reported as major predators of motile species in benthonic marine communities, capturing their prey by different foraging techniques. This study assessed for the first time the feeding ecology, foraging behavior, and defensive strategy during foraging, including the use of body patterns, to construct a general octopus foraging strategy in a shallow water-reef system. Octopus insularis was studied in situ using visual observations and video recordings. The diet included at least 55 species of crustaceans (70%), bivalves (17.5%), and gastropods (12.5%); however, only four species accounted for half of the occurrences: the small crabs Pitho sp. (26.8%) and Mithrax forceps (23.9%), the bivalve Lima lima (5.3%), and the gastropod Pisania pusio (4.9%). Poke and crawl were most frequent foraging behaviors observed in the video recordings. The foraging behaviors were associated with environmental variables and octopus body size. The sequences of foraging behavior showed characteristics of a tactile saltatory searching predator, as well as a visual opportunist. Body patterns showed a relationship with foraging behavior, habitat variables, and octopus body size. Mottle was the most frequent pattern, especially during poke and crawl, in shallower depths. Dorsal light-ventral blue green was more frequent during swimming at midwater, and Blotch was the normal pattern during web-over by large animals. The large proportion of two species of small crabs in den remains, the intense search for food during short hunting trips, and the intense use of cryptic body patterns during foraging trips, suggest that this species is a 'time-minimizing' forager instead of a 'ratemaximizer'.

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“…Octopus insularis Leite, et al . 2008 has been reported to exhibit facultative social mimicry by temporarily imitating the fish with which it happens to be associated at the time (Krajewski et al ., 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the widespread use of flatfish swimming in T. mimicus , ‘White V’, M. defilippi , and the Hawaiian Long‐Armed Sand Octopus, and its absence in other observed species that are also sympatric with flatfish, we assume that the ability to express this behaviour is a genetically determined presence/absence trait. However, recent reports of possible social mimicry (Krajewski et al ., 2009) and conditional learning (Hvorecny et al ., 2007) in octopuses point to the possibility that environmental cues and learning may also influence the expression of the traits examined here.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of conspicuous facultative mimicry in octopuses: an example of secondary adaptation?

Huffard¹,

Saarman²,

Hamilton³

et al. 2010

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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The 'Mimic Octopus' Thaumoctopus mimicus Norman & Hochberg, 2005 exhibits a conspicuous primary defence mechanism (high-contrast colour pattern during 'flatfish swimming') that may involve facultative imperfect mimicry of conspicuous and/or inconspicuous models, both toxic and non-toxic (Soleidae and Bothidae). Here, we examine relationships between behavioural and morphological elements of conspicuous flatfish swimming in extant octopodids (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), and reconstructed ancestral states, to examine potential influences on the evolution of this rare defence mechanism. We address the order of trait distribution to explore whether conspicuous flatfish swimming may be an exaptation that usurps a previously evolved form of locomotion for a new purpose. Contrary to our predictions, based on the relationships we examined, flatfish swimming appears to have evolved concurrently with extremely long arms, in a clade of sand-dwelling species. The conspicuous body colour pattern displayed by swimming T. mimicus may represent a secondary adaptation potentially allowing for mimicry of a toxic sole, improved disruptive coloration, and/or aposematic coloration.

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Octopus mimicking its follower reef fish

Cited by 16 publications

References 13 publications

Unique arm-flapping behavior of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis: putative mimicry of a hermit crab

Unique arm-flapping behavior of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis: putative mimicry of a hermit crab

Octopus insularis (Octopodidae), evidences of a specialized predator and a time-minimizing hunter

The evolution of conspicuous facultative mimicry in octopuses: an example of secondary adaptation?

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