title: Cannibalistic behavior of octopus (Octopus vulgaris) in the wild.
abstract: The first description of cannibalism in wild adult Octopus vulgaris is presented from 3 observations made in the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain), which were filmed by scuba divers. These records document common traits in cannibalistic behavior: (a) it was intercohort cannibalism; (b) attacks were made by both males and females; (c) in 2 of the records, the prey were transported to the den, which was covered with stones of different sizes; (d) the predator started to eat the tip of the arms of its prey; (e) predation on conspecifics occurred even if there were other abundant prey available (i.e., mussels); and (f) the prey/predator weight ratio in the 3 cases ranged from 20% to 25% body weight. The relationships between this behavior and sex, defense of territory, energy balance, food shortage, competition and predation, as well as how the attacker kills its victim are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC).
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Urcera
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC).
authors.forename: Manuel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Garci
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC).
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roura
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC).
authors.forename: Angel F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA).
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabanellas-Reboredo
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA).
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morales-Nin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC).
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002190:Cannibalism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors