Cutlefish can communicate using tental waves

Cutlefish is known to display a few methods to communicate. Listing with methods like changing colors and body patterns, issuing ink for courtship display, men using tentical movements complicate their communication system to show aggression towards other men. A new research by Sophie Cohen-Bodeness and Peter Neri suggests the possibility of cutalfish using their tents for waves and hints on each other to interact.

Waving pattern study

As StudyPosted on the bioorxiv preprint server, researchers studied the general cutalfish (sepia officeinelis) and dwarf cutalfish (sepia bandensis), observing four consistent arm wave gestures: “Up,” “Side,” “Roll,” and “Crown”. When videos of these gestures were shown, Katalfish often replied by copying them – especially when the footage was straight – reflecting directional recognition. Additionally, movements produced vibration waves in water. Using a hydrophone, the team recorded these vibrations and found that Katalfish only responded to the original, unlocked versions. This suggests that the sequence of vibration bears the meaning, potentially serves as an alternative communication method when visual signs are blocked.

Interpretations

While the findings of the study are promising, further research is yet to be done to define these hand movements as true communication. Given the social nature of the cutalfish, the movement is likely to be communicated, but the reactions require more data to correct specific signals. Researchers are thinking about applying machine learning approaches to understand the wave meaning and develop a robotic cutalfish to repeat gestures and vibrations aimed at better understanding this potential water language.