New acute chromatic components during prey attack in juvenile cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis, Linnaeus 1758): The “Leopard spots”

Abstract

Cephalopod molluscs exhibit sophisticated colour changes that allow them to camouflage themselves in a dynamic environment, and to communicate with conspecifics, prey or predators. The present study reports the description of previously undescribed three chromatic body components that were observed by coincidence during prey attack by young cuttlefish. These three components are formed by several units in the form of dark spots located inside the white square on the mantle (L1), between the eyes along the white head bar (L2) and on the arms (L3). They were called the “Leopard spots.” They appeared very transiently during the attack of a shrimp, alone or in group, and their expression was variable within and between individuals. We hypothesise that the Leopard spots play a role in reducing the risk of cuttlefish predation during the shrimp attack, but it is not known whether this is a form of camouflage or a warning signal to predators.