Zebra Octopus Stripes Equivalent to Fingerprint, Key to Identification, Study Says

A zebra octopus's stripes resemble a fingerprint. The ability to blend in makes octopuses and other cephalopods difficult for researchers to study in the wild. It might be the key to identifying it.

Thanks to recent research from the University of California, Berkeley, this might change for some species. In a recent study, scientists from UC Berkeley discovered that lesser Pacific striped octopuses' striped patterns are unique, much like fingerprints. This finding might make O. chierchiae a more reliable model organism for upcoming research and aid in the tracking and identification of specific cephalopods in the wild.

Octopuses in the Laboratory and Fingerprints

Given their short lifespans, distinctive behavior, and dietary requirements, octopuses are difficult animals to study in a lab. O chierchiae, though, has proven to be an exception to these problems. It is simpler for scientists to track genetic traits and observe behavioral patterns in this species because it is smaller in size, lays an egg clutch every 30 to 90 days, and therefore can live up to eight years. This was also explained in a 2019 NPR article discussing the species as the candidate lab rat alternative.

The possibility of individualization in O. chierchiae, comparable to that in Wunderpus photogenic, another species of cephalopod distinguished by its black-and-white stripes, piqued the interest of scientists at UC Berkeley. They were surprised to discover that O. chierchiae also has distinctive stripe patterns, which makes it possible to track and observe these animals more precisely.

Although it is still difficult to study octopuses in a lab, Researchers can learn more about these fascinating animals and improve their understanding of their distinctive behaviors and genetic characteristics by studying species suchas O. chierchiae.

Chierchiae has consistent stripe patterns throughout their lives, serving as a distinctive identifier, according to UC Berkeley researchers. The stripes of 25 octopuses were photographed by the researchers, who verified that they were distinct from one another. This could be used to identify specific octopuses in the wild, much like fingerprints can identify people.

Camouflaging Octopuses

Octopuses change color using a network of pigmented cells, including chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores. This ability makes them difficult to track in the wild, as tagging or tattooing can harm them. The discovery of individualized stripe patterns in O. chierchiae may provide a less invasive way to identify and track wild octopuses, aiding in the study of cephalopod behavior and intelligence.

Wang and her team have studied O. chierchiae for years and cultivated them in a lab in 2021. They believe O. chierchiae is an excellent model organism for the study of animal intelligence and behavior due to its reproducibility and long lifespan. Wang published a paper in Frontiers of Marine Biology highlighting the benefits of using O. chierchiae as a model organism, noting that they can be housed in typical labs.

The ability to identify individual octopuses lends validation to her argument, making them useful for researchers. Wang asserts that O. chierchiae is useful from the researcher's perspective.

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Octopus Conservation Efforts

Researchers from UC Berkeley have identified individual octopuses of the species Octopus chierchiae by analyzing unique pigment patterns on their skin. This could have implications for tracking octopuses in the wild and for future conservation efforts. By applying photo-identification methods, scientists could learn more about the behaviors and populations of these fascinating animals without causing harm.

This knowledge could help inform conservation decisions and prevent poaching or illegal farming of octopuses. Additionally, learning about individual octopuses can help the general public better connect with these animals and inspire more engagement in conservation efforts. With more research, scientists could tell the stories of individual O. chierchiae octopuses and bring us closer to these cephalopods, one animal at a time, Ars Technica reports.

This study by Liu, Song, Kelkar, Ramji, and Caldwell was recently published in the journal PLOS One.