Mottle camouflage patterns in cuttlefish: quantitative characterization and visual background stimuli that evoke them

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.030247
• Publication Date: 2009-12-28T18:32:37Z
• Authors: Chuan-Chin Chiao; Charles Chubb; Kendra C. Buresch; Alexandra Barbosa; Justine J. Allen; Lydia M. Mäthger; Roger T. Hanlon
• Keywords: Camouflage; Cuttlefish

SUMMARY Cuttlefish and other cephalopods achieve dynamic background matching with two general classes of body patterns: uniform (or uniformly stippled) patterns mottle patterns. Both pattern types have been described chiefly by the size scale contrast their skin components. Mottle in characterized previously as small-to-moderate-scale light dark patches (i.e. mottles) distributed somewhat evenly across surface. Here we move beyond this commonly accepted qualitative description quantitatively measuring mottled components relating these statistics to specific visual stimuli (psychophysics approach) that evoke type background-matching pattern. were tested on artificial natural substrates experimentally determine some primary cues Randomly small-scale objects repetition shapes/sizes) a lighter substrate moderate are essential elicit camouflage cuttlefish. Lowering mean luminance without changing its spatial properties can modulate toward disruptive patterns, which larger scale, different shape higher contrast. Backgrounds throughout nature consist continuous range scales; backgrounds medium-sized light/dark those cuttlefish appear be most frequently observed.