Fish mimics octopus that mimics fish

Recorded for the first time, a jawfish sticks close to an octopus that is known to mimic poisonous flatfish and lionfish

2012-01-05

(Press-News.org) SAN FRANCISCO (January 4, 2012) — Nature's game of intimidation and imitation comes full circle in the waters of Indonesia, where scientists have recorded for the first time an association between the black-marble jawfish (Stalix cf. histrio) and the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus).

Undescribed by scientists until 1998, the talented mimic octopus is known to impersonate toxic flatfish, lionfish, and even sea snakes by creatively configuring its limbs, adopting characteristic undulating movements, and displaying bold brown-and-white color patterns. Thanks to these brazen habits, it can swim in the open with relatively little fear of predators.

The jawfish, on the other hand, is a small and timid fish. It spends most of its adult life close to a sand burrow, where it will quickly retreat upon sighting a predator.

During a diving trip in Indonesia in July 2011, Godehard Kopp of the University of Gottingen, Germany, filmed an unexpected pairing between the two animals. Like a lackey clinging on to the big man on campus, the black-marble jawfish was seen closely following a mimic octopus as it moved across the sandy bottom. The jawfish had brown-and-white markings similar to the octopus, and was difficult to spot among the many arms. The octopus, for its part, did not seem to notice or care.

Kopp sent the video to Rich Ross and Luiz Rocha of the California Academy of Sciences, who identified the jawfish species. Since this association had not been recorded before, they published their observations online last month in the scientific journal Coral Reefs. The authors surmise that the jawfish hitches a ride with the octopus for protection, allowing it to venture away from its burrow to look for food—a case of "opportunistic mimicry."

VIDEO: Taken in Indonesia in July 2011, this video records for the first time a jawfish in association with a mimic octopus -- a case of a fish mimicking an octopus...
Click here for more information.

"This is a unique case in the reefs not only because the model for the jawfish is a mimic itself, but also because this is the first case of a jawfish involved in mimicry," said Dr. Luiz Rocha, assistant curator of ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences. "Unfortunately, reefs in the Coral Triangle area of southeast Asia are rapidly declining mostly due to harmful human activities, and we may lose species involved in unique interactions like this even before we get to know them."

INFORMATION:

Watch the octopus-jawfish video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4kZAgny5eg

Images and video available: Email press@calacademy.org

These findings were published online in Rocha LA, Ross R, Kopp G. 2011. Opportunistic mimicry by a jawfish. Coral Reefs. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-011-0855-y

About the California Academy of Sciences

The Academy is an international center for scientific education and research and is at the forefront of efforts to understand and protect the diversity of Earth's living things. The Academy has a staff of over 50 professional educators and Ph.D.-level scientists, supported by more than 100 Research and Field Associates and over 300 Fellows. It conducts research in 12 scientific fields: anthropology, aquatic biology, botany, comparative genomics, entomology, geology, herpetology, ichthyology, invertebrate zoology, mammalogy, microbiology, and ornithology. Visit research.calacademy.org.

[Attachments] See images for this press release:

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

No more free rides for 'piggy-backing' viruses

2012-01-05

Scientists have determined the structure of the enzyme endomannosidase, significantly advancing our understanding of how a group of devastating human viruses including HIV and Hepatitis C hijack human enzymes to reproduce and cause disease. The findings open the door to the development of new drugs to combat these deadly viruses that infect more than 180 million people worldwide. The team of international scientists led by and Professor Gideon Davies from the University of York and Associate Professor Spencer Williams from the University of Melbourne, studied bacterial ...

Russian river water unexpected culprit behind Arctic freshening near US, Canada

2012-01-05

A hemispherewide phenomenon – and not just regional forces – has caused record-breaking amounts of freshwater to accumulate in the Arctic's Beaufort Sea. Frigid freshwater flowing into the Arctic Ocean from three of Russia's mighty rivers was diverted hundreds of miles to a completely different part of the ocean in response to a decades-long shift in atmospheric pressure associated with the phenomenon called the Arctic Oscillation, according to findings published in the Jan. 5 issue of Nature. The new findings show that a low pressure pattern created by the Arctic Oscillation ...

One in Four Brits Spend 40% of Take-Home Pay on Debt Payments, Reveals Debt Solutions Company, Debt Relief Orders

2012-01-05

The report from Moneysupermarket.com revealed that the average amount of non-mortgage debt paid off each month is GBP322 a month, around 25% of the average monthly net salary for a UK adult, while a shocking 8% claim to have spent over 80% of their wages repaying debt. And despite women having the reputation for being prolific shoppers, it is men that appear to have 15% more personal unsecured debt compared to their female counterparts - on average GBP7,944 compared to GBP6,739. MoneySupermarket.com's head of loans and debt, Tim Moss, said: "With the cost of living ...

New fermented soy ingredient containing S-equol significantly reduced hot flash frequency

2012-01-05

Northridge, CALIF (Jan 4, 2012) – Daily doses of a soy germ-based nutritional supplement containing S-equol significantly improved menopausal symptoms, including significantly reducing hot flash frequency after 12 weeks according to a placebo-controlled study in postmenopausal Japanese women published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Women's Health. "It is believed that S-equol, produced from the isoflavone daidzein during the fermentation of soy germ, interacts with specific estrogen receptors to promote the improvement in menopausal symptoms. Data from this study and ...

Results, Long-Term Breast Implants

2012-01-05

In 2006, the Food & Drug Administration approved two new models of silicone implants: one model was made by Mentor and the other by Allergan. This approval by the FDA proved controversial as many critics claimed there wasn't enough evidence of silicone implants being safe for the long term. To study how the implants held up over long-term, the FDA required both Mentor and Allergan to perform a variety of follow-up studies--some studies won't even end until 2016. The study involved 40,000 participants for each model, totaling 80,000 in all. Some studies included ...

Seriously, we're poisonous: Coloration is an honest signal of toxicity in poison frogs

2012-01-05

January article highlights: Seriously, we're poisonous: Coloration is an honest signal of toxicity in poison frogs Bright Eyes: How butterflies recognize their compatriots in a world of mimics Researchers show how a nest parasite can be a good thing for an ant colony A rough start for a hatchling could mean duller plumage for life For a complete list of articles in the January issue, go to www.journals.uchicago.edu/an Seriously, we're poisonous: Coloration is an honest signal of toxicity in poison frogs The conspicuous colors of poisonous frogs serve as a warning ...

Non-Surgical Facelifts

2012-01-05

If you are looking to reduce the signs of facial aging that make you look prematurely aged, but you are not ready for a surgical facelift, you may be considering nonsurgical treatments. Nonsurgical facelifts are not an alternative to traditional facelifts, but they can be an interim treatment for some people. However, if you are considering using nonsurgical treatments for your facial rejuvenation, you should make sure that your choice of plastic surgeon is capable of combining treatments successfully. Here are some of the elements that go into a nonsurgical facelift. BOTOX ...

Kaiser Permanente study finds continuous health coverage essential for patients managing diabetes

2012-01-05

January 04, 2012-PORTLAND, Ore. — When patients with diabetes experience interruptions in health - insurance coverage, they are less likely to receive the screening tests and vaccines they need to protect their health. A new study finds that this is true even when patients receive free or reduced-cost medical care at federally funded safety net clinics. The study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health and findings published online in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. “Our study shows that patients need continuous health insurance ...

Tampa Bay Sinkhole Attorney Ted Corless Gives Florida Homeowners' Side on Sinkhole Insurance

2012-01-05

With more than a decade of experience helping Tampa-area homeowners recover for sinkhole damage to their homes, Attorney Ted Corless, of Corless Associates, wants to clear the air related to recent coverage of sinkhole claims and insurance 'abuse' by policyholders. In the first of three articles to be run by the Tampa Bay Times, sinkhole insurance is characterized as the "Great Florida Sinkhole Lottery;" examples of Florida homeowners receiving payment for losses due to sinkhole damage and using the money for other purposes than repairing the damaged home are ...

How can Lyme disease be prevented and controlled?

2012-01-05

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States, with the majority of cases occurring in the Northeast. It has been three decades since the agent of the disease, the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, and the ticks that vector it were identified. However, the number of Lyme disease cases have steadily increased. In a new article appearing in the forthcoming issuue of the Journal of Medical Entomology called "What Do We Need to Know About Disease Ecology to Prevent Lyme Disease in the Northeastern United States?" authors from Colorado ...

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 upregulates the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway to mitigate hepatocyte ferroptosis in chronic liver injury

Fish mimics octopus that mimics fish

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: