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Sound production in Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus and its role in escape during
predatory attack by Octopus briareus
The goal of this study was to determine the role of stridulation, or sound production in
the lobster Panulirus argus when threatened by its predator Octopus briareus. Spiny lobsters
such as Panulirus argus produce sound using a specific organ found in the animal’s longer
attenae. The organ consists of two parts: a series of ridges at the base of the antennae called the
plectrum, and bump on the side of the lobster’s head known as the file. When the lobster moves
its antennae, the plectrum rubs against the file, creating a loud buzzing sound (Summers). This
mechanism is a defense mechanism against predators. The authors had previously published a
study on its use during triggerfish predation, which showed that the lobsters stridulated when
triggerfish grasped their antennae and attempted to escape by flipping their tail. The researchers
had not determined the function stridulation played in these attacks, as it did not affect lobster
survival rate (Bouma 2006). They suspected that stridulation was a mechanism that had evolved
to protect against nocturnal predators of Panulirus argus, as opposed to diurnal triggerfish which
They chose to test this hypothesis using the predator Octopus briareus, which captures
the lobster by grasping its antennae, similar to the triggerfish. The researchers aimed to
determine whether the lobsters used stridulation as an antipredation tactic, what other
antipredation behavior accompanied it, and how the survival rate varied between stridulating
lobsters and those who had been muted. First, octopuses became acclimated to feeding on
lobsters in the laboratory setting. All trials took place in the same experimental tank, lit only by
dim red lights. An octopus spent 30 minutes in the tank before a lobster was placed on the
opposite end.. Each octopus was used in two trials- once each with a stridulating and mute
lobster that were similar in size. Each trial was recorded on video and then reviewed for lobster
stridulation (recorded using a hydrophone), captures, escapes, injury and the total time for the
The results of the study confirmed the researchers’ hypothesis that stridulation is an
important defense mechanism against Octopus briareus. Of the 15 stridulating lobsters, only one
was consumed by an octopus the first time it was captured, compared to 7 muted lobsters. 10 of
the 12 stridulating lobsters escaped without injury, while only 4 muted lobsters escaped
unharmed. Stridulation occurred in conjunction with tail flips, and lasted on average for 91.8
seconds. Those lobsters that were muted were observed moving their antennae in attempt to
stridulate. Researchers observed that octopuses were more successful at grasping the antennae of
muted lobsters, suggesting that it is not so much the sound which deters prey, but the vibration
of the lobster’s antennae. The vibration decreases the amount of friction between the antennae
and the octopus’s skin, making it harder for the octopus to grip the lobster. Another interesting
observation the researchers made was that lobsters continued to produce sound after they had
been captured. They suggest this might be an attempt to attract predators of the octopus and plan
The results of this study show that stridulation is an important trait for lobster survival
against nocturnal predators, and also provides insight into why and how this trait has evolved.
Since various organisms use sound to fight off predators, this study also contributed to our
http://biomechanics.bio.uci.edu/_html/nh_biomech/lobster_violin/lobster.htm