Invertebrate

Assessing local anesthesia in Octopus bimaculoides to provide analgesia

Despite the substantial growth of cephalopod research over the past 15 years, effective pain management for these animals remains largely unstudied, and no US federal regulations currently address cephalopod analgesia. This 2-phase study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of lidocaine,...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Analgesia, Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Copio, J. N., Schulz, N. G., Ragsdale, C. W. et al. 2026. Assessing local anesthesia in Octopus bimaculoides to provide analgesia. JAALAS 65(2), 171–181.

Use of artificial shelter structures by individual Penaeus monodon broodstock prawns

Optimising the housing and management conditions for aquaculture species is becoming increasingly important. Determining what resources animals prefer can inform captive management decisions for positive impacts on the individual’s welfare. The black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) aquaculture industry is prominent...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Campbell, D. L. M., Coman, G. J., Stratford, C. et al. 2026. Use of artificial shelter structures by individual Penaeus monodon broodstock prawns. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 296, 106896.

Chemosensory-driven foraging and nocturnal activity in the freshwater snail rivomarginella morrisoni (Gastropoda marginellidae): A laboratory-based study

Rivomarginella morrisoni is a freshwater snail endemic to Thailand, yet its behavioral ecology remains poorly understood. This study described the feeding behavior of R. morrisoni, focusing on its foraging activity, behavioral patterns, and food detection mechanisms under laboratory conditions using...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Invertebrate, Other Invertebrate

Citation: Subpayakom, N., Dumrongrojwattana, P., Poeaim, S. 2025. Chemosensory-driven foraging and nocturnal activity in the freshwater snail rivomarginella morrisoni (Gastropoda marginellidae): A laboratory-based study. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 6(4).

Nutritional insights into octopus diets in aquaria

Common octopus Octopus vulgaris are a popular exhibit in aquaria; however, there is limited research on the nutritional requirements of this species. The current information available is from the aquaculture industry and thus focused on young individuals and maximising growth...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Hunt, K., Freeman, M., Chamberlain, C. et al. 2026. Nutritional insights into octopus diets in aquaria. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 14(1), 25–30.

Impact of different stocking densities on growth performance, welfare and physiology of Litopenaeus vannamei in RAS

Optimal stocking density allows shrimp farmers to maximise profit while maintaining animal welfare. To date, holistic assessments of chronic crowding stress effect on Litopenaeus vannamei are lacking regarding biological impairments, stress-related behaviors, and recovery capacity. Twelve tanks of a recirculation...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Gamberoni, P., Bögner, M., Kreuz, E. et al. 2026. Impact of different stocking densities on growth performance, welfare and physiology of Litopenaeus vannamei in RAS. Scientific Reports 16(1), 9087.

Euthanasia methods in invertebrates: A critical narrative review of methodological and welfare standards

Invertebrates are increasingly consumed and kept as pets, research models, and in zoological exhibits, creating a growing need to better understand their clinical management and welfare. However, the knowledge regarding nociception, pain perception, and euthanasia in invertebrates remains limited, and...

Year Published: 2026Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Crustacean, Insect & Spider, Invertebrate, Other Invertebrate

Citation: Bakker, J., Garza, M. A. de la, Morel, M. et al. 2026. Euthanasia methods in invertebrates: A critical narrative review of methodological and welfare standards. Animals 16(2).

Do arthropods respond to noxious stimuli purely by reflex?

Mikhalevich & Powell (2020) argue that it is wrong to dismiss the idea of sentience in invertebrates. Here, I expand on the evidence for crustaceans responding to noxious stimuli in ways that are not explained by mere reflexes, and that...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Elwood, R. W. 2020. Do arthropods respond to noxious stimuli purely by reflex? Animal Sentience 29(10).

Changing priorities about protective shelters: A review of a key method to investigate possible pain in crustaceans

Testing if non-human taxa experience pain is difficult because we need to exclude the possibility that responses are nociceptive reflexes. One approach is to identify an essential, high priority, resource and then ask if the animal will abandon and subsequently...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Elwood, R. W. 2025. Changing priorities about protective shelters: A review of a key method to investigate possible pain in crustaceans. Biology Letters 21(9), 20250342.

Identifying trends in reporting on the ethical treatment of insects in research

Transparent reporting on the ethical treatment of research animals (e.g., implementation of the 3Rs, replace, reduce, and refine) is recommended when publishing in peer-reviewed literature. This is meant to foster public trust, safeguard animal welfare, and generate reproducible science. However,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Insect & Spider, Invertebrate

Citation: Perl, C. D., Kissinger, C., Godfrey, R. K. et al. 2025. Identifying trends in reporting on the ethical treatment of insects in research. PLOS ONE 20(8), e0328931.

Evidence of play behavior in captive California two-spot octopuses, Octopus bimaculoides

Play is considered to be an essential part of development that supports learning, memory, and the development of flexible behavioral strategies. It may also serve as an informative factor in assessing an animal’s welfare state and in improving care and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Jarmoluk, K., Pelled, G. 2025. Evidence of play behavior in captive California two-spot octopuses, Octopus bimaculoides. PLOS ONE 20(7), e0326379.