Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/45458
Citations | ||
Scopus | Web of Science® | Altmetric |
---|---|---|
?
|
?
|
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Adaptable night camouflage by cuttlefish |
Author: | Hanlon, Roger T. Naud, Marie-Jose Forsythe, John W. Hall, Karina Christine Watson, Anya C. McKechnie, Joy |
Citation: | American Naturalist, 2007; 169(4):543-551 |
Publisher: | University of Chicago Press |
Issue Date: | 2007 |
ISSN: | 0003-0147 |
School/Discipline: | School of Molecular and Biomedical Science |
Statement of Responsibility: | Roger T. Hanlon, Marie-José Naud, John W. Forsythe, Karina Hall, Anya C. Watson and Joy McKechnie |
Abstract: | Cephalopods are well known for their diverse, quickchanging camouflage in a wide range of shallow habitats worldwide. However, there is no documentation that cephalopods use their diverse camouflage repertoire at night. We used a remotely operated vehicle equipped with a video camera and a red light to conduct 16 transects on the communal spawning grounds of the giant Australian cuttlefish Sepia apama situated on a temperate rock reef in southern Australia. Cuttlefish ceased sexual signaling and reproductive behavior at dusk and then settled to the bottom and quickly adapted their body patterns to produce camouflage that was tailored to different backgrounds. During the day, only 3% of cuttlefish were camouflaged on the spawning ground, but at night 86% (71 of 83 cuttlefish) were camouflaged in variations of three body pattern types: uniform (np5), mottled (np33), or disruptive (np34) coloration. The implication is that nocturnal visual predators provide the selective pressure for rapid, changeable camouflage patterning tuned to different visual backgrounds at night. |
Keywords: | crypsis ; concealment ; disruptive coloration ; coincident disruptive coloration ; cephalopod ; Sepia apama |
Provenance: | Electronically published February 12, 2007 |
Rights: | Copyright © 2007 by The University of Chicago. |
DOI: | 10.1086/512106 |
Appears in Collections: | Molecular and Biomedical Science publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|
hdl_45458.pdf | 512.59 kB | Publisher's PDF | View/Open |
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.