Chemically mediated recognition by the stomatopodGonodactylus brediniof its competitor, the octopusOctopus joubini

The stomatopod Gonodactylus bredini and the octopus Octopus joubini are found throughout the Caribbean frequenting similar habitats. In the laboratory they fight vigorously for living cavities. G. bredini do not avoid or show caution entering cavities containing the odour of O. joubini unless they have prior experience fighting with an O. joubini resident. Then they take longer to enter, are more hesitant in the entrance, and show more defensive behaviour. Thus the recognition of octopus odour is learned rather than innate. G. bredini employ different tactics entering cavities that might contain octopus rather than stomatopods. There is no evidence that G. bredini can recognize individual octopus by odour.