Behavioral Repertoire of lab-reared early juveniles of the Mexican four-eyed octopus:Octopus maya

Abstract

ABSTRACTBehavioral studies have predominantly focused on organisms within the phyla Craniata and Arthropoda. Yet, there has been a growing interest in studying the behavior of organisms from alternative phyla, such as mollusks, owing to the research opportunities they offer. Among mollusks, cephalopods have emerged as a prominent subject of inquiry. However, behavioral research on Mexico’s endemic species,Octopus maya (Om), remains conspicuously scarce.Omexhibits favorable attributes for utilization as a standardized animal model in neuroscience research, primarily due to its adaptability to laboratory settings and the successful raising of multiple generations. A comprehensive understanding ofOm’s behavior within laboratory environments is essential to harness its potential as a research model. Thus, the main goal of this study was to establish a comprehensive behavioral catalog forOmunder laboratory conditions. ThirteenOmsubjects (6 to 20 grams) were housed in controlled tank environments. Our findings reveal thatOmexhibits a diverse behavioral repertoire, comprising a minimum of twenty-one distinct behaviors categorized into six behavioral classes. Additionally,Omdisplays discernable diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns, with increased activity levels, altered behavior distributions, and varying activity frequencies predominantly during daylight hours. This expanded knowledge ofOm’s behavior enhances its suitability as a research model organism.