Alternative mating tactics and tactical deception: Is the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) nothing but a common cheat?

Abstract

Alternative mating tactics (AMTs) are common in the animal kingdom, yet much work remains before their evolution and role in driving sexual selection is fully understood. Utilizing features of citizen science, we present compelling evidence that a third species in the cuttlefish genus Sepia (Cephalopoda) possess males who use sneaky mating and female mimicry as alternative strategies to conspicuous signalling and fighting. We also present new evidence of large aggregations (n~30) in this species that possibly drive alternative mating strategies. Lastly, we provide footage of an opportunistic sneaky copulation in this species. We believe that alternative mating tactics may be more common in this genus than previously recorded (based on observations presented here and a search of the literature for similar life history, environmental and behavioural factors found in other species within the Sepia genus), and as much of their captive husbandry is well known, they could an ideal system for studying the evolution of alternative reproductive strategies.