No evidence for object play in the dwarf cuttlefish, Sepia bandensis

IF 2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Applied Animal Behaviour Science Pub Date : 2025-07-24 DOI:10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106765

Kira Lemke, Robyn J. Crook

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Cephalopods are marine invertebrates renowned for their complex brains and behaviors, and are widely used in studies of learning, memory, visual processing and motor control. Their dynamic skin coloration and high activity levels also make them appealing in educational and display settings. Despite large numbers of cephalopods used and bred for research and education worldwide, our understanding of welfare and husbandry needs remain rudimentary. Whilst a few studies have focused on enrichment for octopuses, there have been no similar controlled studies for cuttlefish. Here, we examine if a commonly used enrichment for octopuses - provision of play objects - provides welfare enhancements for captive-bred dwarf cuttlefish, Sepia bandensis. Over the course of several weeks, cuttlefish housed in either enriched or impoverished conditions were exposed to four types of potential play objects, each providing different sensory stimulation and potential for interaction. Cuttlefish were recorded in their home tanks in the presence and absence of each object (or group of objects), and interactions, affiliations and temporal patterns of behavior were analyzed to quantify potential play behavior. Although we observed some evidence for affiliation with objects in the impoverished condition, we found no evidence for affiliation in the enriched housing group, and no evidence in either group for interactive play behavior with any of the objects provided. Thus we conclude that cuttlefish are unlikely to engage in object play, further highlighting their distinct behavioral repertoire as compared to octopuses, and thus will likely not derive welfare benefits from provision of play objects if housed appropriately.

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没有证据表明侏儒乌贼（Sepia bandensis）有物体玩耍

头足类动物是海洋无脊椎动物，以其复杂的大脑和行为而闻名，被广泛用于学习、记忆、视觉处理和运动控制的研究。它们动态的皮肤颜色和高活动水平也使它们在教育和展示环境中具有吸引力。尽管全世界有大量的头足类动物用于研究和教育，但我们对福利和畜牧业需求的了解仍然很初级。虽然有一些研究集中在章鱼的富集上，但还没有对墨鱼进行类似的对照研究。在这里，我们研究了章鱼常用的一种富集方式——提供玩耍对象——是否能提高人工饲养的矮乌贼（Sepia bandensis）的福利。在几个星期的过程中，墨鱼被安置在富裕或贫穷的条件下，暴露在四种潜在的游戏对象中，每种都提供不同的感官刺激和互动的潜力。在墨鱼的家庭水箱中记录每种物体（或一组物体）存在和不存在的情况，并分析相互作用、隶属关系和行为的时间模式，以量化潜在的游戏行为。尽管我们观察到一些证据表明在贫困条件下儿童与物品有关联，但我们没有发现在富裕住房组中有关联的证据，也没有发现两组儿童与任何提供的物品有互动游戏行为的证据。因此，我们得出结论，墨鱼不太可能参与物体游戏，与章鱼相比，进一步突出了它们独特的行为技能，因此，如果安置得当，墨鱼可能不会从提供的游戏物体中获得福利。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 农林科学-行为科学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

21.70%

发文量

191

审稿时长

18.1 weeks

期刊介绍： This journal publishes relevant information on the behaviour of domesticated and utilized animals. Topics covered include: -Behaviour of farm, zoo and laboratory animals in relation to animal management and welfare -Behaviour of companion animals in relation to behavioural problems, for example, in relation to the training of dogs for different purposes, in relation to behavioural problems -Studies of the behaviour of wild animals when these studies are relevant from an applied perspective, for example in relation to wildlife management, pest management or nature conservation -Methodological studies within relevant fields The principal subjects are farm, companion and laboratory animals, including, of course, poultry. The journal also deals with the following animal subjects: -Those involved in any farming system, e.g. deer, rabbits and fur-bearing animals -Those in ANY form of confinement, e.g. zoos, safari parks and other forms of display -Feral animals, and any animal species which impinge on farming operations, e.g. as causes of loss or damage -Species used for hunting, recreation etc. may also be considered as acceptable subjects in some instances -Laboratory animals, if the material relates to their behavioural requirements