Science

n2doc

(47,953 posts) Tue Dec 8, 2015, 09:55 AM Dec 2015

Clever Cuttlefish 'Freeze' Bioelectric Fields to Avoid Predators

Cuttlefish are known for their ability to change colors, but these clever cephalopods have a problem: Sharks, rays and other predators hunt not only by sight, but by sensing the bioelectric fields emanating from their prey.

Now, new research reveals that cuttlefish have a solution to this problem: They turn down their natural electric fields by freezing in place and holding their breath.

This freeze response has not been studied as extensively as cephalopod color camouflage, or cuttlefish's response of releasing ink and jetting away from danger, said study researcher Christine Bedore, a biologist at Georgia Southern University.

Electric-field sensing "opens up the way we think about camouflage," Bedore told Live Science.

more
http://www.livescience.com/52956-cuttlefish-freeze-bioelectric-fields.html

6 replies

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Clever Cuttlefish 'Freeze' Bioelectric Fields to Avoid Predators (Original Post) n2doc Dec 2015 OP

Very interesting! hunter Dec 2015 #1

Cuttlefish are cool. tclambert Dec 2015 #2

How come there are no cephalopod science deniers? ffr Dec 2015 #3

I dispute most scientific claims regarding the cephalopod. callous taoboy Dec 2015 #4

Plausible. ffr Dec 2015 #5

Mock me? Can you not plainly see the little Cuttlefish's callous taoboy Dec 2015 #6

hunter

(38,338 posts)

1. Very interesting!

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Tue Dec 8, 2015, 02:37 PM

Dec 2015

I like the hint about more research to come...

Is it possible that certain aquatic animals can generate electric fields that mimic non-prey animals or inedible objects?

Hmmm....

tclambert

(11,087 posts)

2. Cuttlefish are cool.

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Tue Dec 8, 2015, 05:03 PM

Dec 2015

ffr

(22,674 posts)

3. How come there are no cephalopod science deniers?

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Wed Dec 9, 2015, 02:01 AM

Dec 2015

Seems all other sciences get a pass from RWNJs, but climate science isn't okay with them. Something fishy there.

Great story BTW. This is why I love science. Thanks N2DOC.

callous taoboy

(4,590 posts)

4. I dispute most scientific claims regarding the cephalopod.

Reply to ffr (Reply #3)

Wed Dec 9, 2015, 07:12 AM

Dec 2015

How do we know, in this instance, that the cephalopod is not frozen in prayer? Can you prove that the cephalopod is not praying when a shark passes by?

ffr

(22,674 posts)

5. Plausible.

Reply to callous taoboy (Reply #4)

Wed Dec 9, 2015, 11:57 AM

Dec 2015

If the shark passes over without attacking then the FSM deity does exist and if the shark attacks, we can all proclaim that its beliefs weren't resolute enough. No 72 virgins for you Mr. Cuttlefish!

callous taoboy

(4,590 posts)

6. Mock me? Can you not plainly see the little Cuttlefish's

Reply to ffr (Reply #5)

Wed Dec 9, 2015, 01:21 PM

Dec 2015

tentacles (not noodly) folded in prayer in the picture?

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