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Chapter 2
Behaviour
Jennifer Mather and David Scheel
J. Iglesias et al. (eds.), Cephalopod Culture, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8648-5_2,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
J. Mather ()
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
e-mail: mather@uleth.ca
D. Scheel
Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK, USA
e-mail: dscheel@alaskapacific.edu
Abstract The coleoid cephalopods, typified by cuttlefish, squid, and octopuses,
are carnivorous molluscs. Of the better-known coastal cephalopods, many live in
shallow water, are short-lived, physiologically efficient, and nocturnal. The behaviour of cephalopods overall is poorly known: a basic ethogram is available for one
cuttlefish and one octopus species. Cuttlefish and squid eat primarily fish and crustaceans; the octopus diet includes crustaceans and molluscs. Most cephalopods prefer live natural food and prepared diets reduce growth compared to natural food.
Cephalopods are generally solitary. A semelparous life history, parental care of
eggs only in the octopuses (and a few squid) and no overlap of generations restrict
the opportunity for social behaviour. Cuttlefish reproductive tactics may be complex, and squid swim with conspecifics in schools. Smaller cephalopods are at risk
for cannibalism from larger ones (common in 59 % of species and high in 24 %).
Cephalopods use visual displays, and some have size-based social hierarchies in
captivity. Coastal coleoid cephalopods grow rapidly (live only 1–2 years), mature
at an early age, and many die shortly after laying eggs. Many species of squid and
cuttlefish aggregate for spawning, while male octopuses locate receptive females
by chemoreception. Most young hatch at a small size, are planktonic, and must hunt
live appropriate-sized prey. Major challenges to mariculture include keeping tiny
planktonic paralarvae alive, providing adequate diet for growth, and avoiding cannibalism within high density captive populations.
Keywords Behaviour · Cephalopods · Life history · Diet · Antipredator ·
Reproduction
Chapter 2
Behaviour
Jennifer Mather and David Scheel
J. Iglesias et al. (eds.), Cephalopod Culture, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8648-5_2,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
J. Mather ()
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
e-mail: mather@uleth.ca
D. Scheel
Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK, USA
e-mail: dscheel@alaskapacific.edu
Abstract The coleoid cephalopods, typified by cuttlefish, squid, and octopuses,
are carnivorous molluscs. Of the better-known coastal cephalopods, many live in
shallow water, are short-lived, physiologically efficient, and nocturnal. The behaviour of cephalopods overall is poorly known: a basic ethogram is available for one
cuttlefish and one octopus species. Cuttlefish and squid eat primarily fish and crustaceans; the octopus diet includes crustaceans and molluscs. Most cephalopods prefer live natural food and prepared diets reduce growth compared to natural food.
Cephalopods are generally solitary. A semelparous life history, parental care of
eggs only in the octopuses (and a few squid) and no overlap of generations restrict
the opportunity for social behaviour. Cuttlefish reproductive tactics may be complex, and squid swim with conspecifics in schools. Smaller cephalopods are at risk
for cannibalism from larger ones (common in 59 % of species and high in 24 %).
Cephalopods use visual displays, and some have size-based social hierarchies in
captivity. Coastal coleoid cephalopods grow rapidly (live only 1–2 years), mature
at an early age, and many die shortly after laying eggs. Many species of squid and
cuttlefish aggregate for spawning, while male octopuses locate receptive females
by chemoreception. Most young hatch at a small size, are planktonic, and must hunt
live appropriate-sized prey. Major challenges to mariculture include keeping tiny
planktonic paralarvae alive, providing adequate diet for growth, and avoiding cannibalism within high density captive populations.
Keywords Behaviour · Cephalopods · Life history · Diet · Antipredator ·
Reproduction