File(s) under permanent embargo
Cuttlefish camouflage: a quantitative study of patterning
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 14:39 authored by Adam Shohet, Roland Baddeley, John Anderson, Daniel Colaco OsorioDaniel Colaco OsorioTo investigate camouflage design, we compared the responses of two species of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis and Sepia pharaonis) with controlled but naturalistic backgrounds, consisting of mixtures of 1-mm and 9-mm diameter coloured pebbles. Quantitative analysis of image data using methods adapted from functional imaging research found differences in how the two species camouflage themselves. Whereas S. officinalis switches from background resemblance to a disruptive pattern as it moves from a fine to a coarsely patterned background particle, S. pharaonis blends the two types of pattern. We suggest that the differences may arise because S. pharaonis needs to produce camouflage that is effective when viewed over a relatively wide range of distances.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Biological Journal of the Linnean SocietyISSN
0024-4066Publisher
Wiley-BlackwellExternal DOI
Issue
2Volume
92Page range
335-345Department affiliated with
- Biology and Environmental Science Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes