Manipulation
Female squid have false sperm to repel males
In California squid, the madam can display white spots on its body that resemble the male’s sperm. These go their separate ways.
Published
If a male is too aggressive, the female California squid may trick him into believing he is on the wrong target.
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Love scenes are countless in the animal kingdom. But the reverse is also true: strategies to avoid mating. The female California squid can do just that (Doryteuthis opalescens) Swimming near the beach. She convinces more aggressive men that she has the balls, pushing them to succeed elsewhere.
University of California scientists made this discovery by studying the cells (chromatophores) capable of changing the color of their skin. They first discovered that only females of this species of squid have iridescent, iridescent rainbow stripes under their fins. This is due to reflectin, a protein that can modulate the incidence of reflected light. “Science and Life”. These cells are six times brighter than others.
But as these lines appeared, the researchers discovered that a white patch had formed on the women’s bodies. These are leucophore cells that emit only white light. So the females are able to light them up, causing two white spots to appear that resemble the male’s sperm. Believing she is dating another man, the seductress goes on her way.
The scientists will further their study to find out whether these squids’ color changes also serve as a means of communication.
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