Interspecific evaluation of octopus escape behavior.
The well-known ability of octopuses to escape enclosures is a behavior that can be fatal and, therefore, is an animal welfare issue. This study obtained survey data from 38 participants-primarily scientists and public aquarists who work with octopuses-on 25 described species of octopus. The study demonstrates that the likeliness to escape is species specific (p =.001). The study gives husbandry techniques to keep captive octopuses contained. This first interspecific study of octopus escape behavior allows readers to make informed species-specific husbandry choices.
Wood
James B
JB
Bermuda Biological Station for Research, St. George's, Bermuda. ceph@dal.ca
Anderson
Roland C
RC
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000145:classification; D013045:Species Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires