Response of female cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Cephalopoda) to mirrors and conspecifics: evidence for signaling in female cuttlefish |
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Authors: | M E Palmer M Richard Calvé Shelley A Adamo |
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Institution: | (1) Dorset Environmental Science Centre, Dorset, ON, Canada, P0A 1E0;(2) Department Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4J1;(3) Department Psychology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4J1, Halifax, NS, Canada |
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Abstract: | Cuttlefish have a large repertoire of body patterns that are used for camouflage and interspecific signaling. Intraspecific
signaling by male cuttlefish has been well documented but studies on signaling by females are lacking. We found that females
displayed a newly described body pattern termed Splotch toward their mirror image and female conspecifics, but not to males,
prey or inanimate objects. Female cuttlefish may use the Splotch body pattern as an intraspecific signal, possibly to reduce
agonistic interactions. The ability of females to produce a consistent body pattern in response to conspecifics and mirrors
suggests that they can recognize same-sex conspecifics using visual cues, despite the lack of sexual dimorphism visible to
human observers.
Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accesible for authorized users. |
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Keywords: | Animal communication Mollusca Body pattern Cephalopoda |
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