title: Interspecific evaluation of octopus escape behavior.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Bermuda Biological Station for Research, St. George's, Bermuda. ceph@dal.ca
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Roland C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000145:classification; D013045:Species Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires