Invertebrate

Stress induced by fishing in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and relative impact on its use as an experimental model (2025)

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), among coleoid cephalopods, has evolved the most complex nervous system and sophisticated behaviors. Historically, O. vulgaris was a key animal model for neurophysiology research, and today, it is studied for its genomic innovations. However, unlike...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Maselli, V., Norcia, M., Pinto, B. et al. 2025. Stress induced by fishing in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and relative impact on its use as an experimental model. Animals 15(4), 503.

Defending and refining the Birch et al. (2021) precautionary framework for animal sentience (2025)

It is widely accepted that we ought to avoid taking excessive risks of causing gratuitous suffering. The practical implications of this truism, however, depend on how we understand what counts as an excessive risk. Precautionary frameworks help us decide when...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Fischer, B., Gottlieb, J., Schnell, A. K. et al. 2025. Defending and refining the Birch et al. (2021) precautionary framework for animal sentience. Animal Welfare 34, e28.

Personality traits of the territorial crustacean Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis): Behavioral adaptations to environmental cues (2025)

Territorial crustaceans exhibit a complex set of personality traits and behavioral characteristics that are critical for their survival, growth, and overall welfare. This study aimed to systematically investigate the interplay between two essential personality traits—boldness and aggression—in Chinese mitten crabs...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Personality, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Fang, P., Sheng, S., Li, Y. et al. 2025. Personality traits of the territorial crustacean Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis): Behavioral adaptations to environmental cues. Animals 15(5), 757.

A history of pain studies and changing attitudes to the welfare of crustaceans (2025)

Early discussions about possible pain in crustaceans often comprised speculation and anecdotes. Experiments to investigate pain took guidance from these early debates, and from studies on other taxa. Many experiments provided data that are consistent with the idea of pain....

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

Citation: Elwood, R. W. 2025. A history of pain studies and changing attitudes to the welfare of crustaceans. Animals 15(3), 445.

Considerations for implementing regulation of decapods in science

Decapod crustaceans, commonly utilised for pure or applied scientific research and commercial food production, have generally remained outside ethical debate. However, in the last decade many parts of the world have seen an increase in public interest in the welfare...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Powell, A., Agnalt, A.-L., Heasman, K. et al. 2024. Considerations for implementing regulation of decapods in science. Animal Welfare 33, e55.

Tarantula welfare may be improved with greater environmental complexity: A preliminary behavioral study with Brazilian black tarantulas (Grammastola pulchra)

Increased environmental complexity has positive effects on the welfare status of vertebrates living in human care; however, this line of research has received little focus in invertebrates. Here we conducted a preliminary investigation of Brazilian black tarantula (Grammastola pulchra) behavior...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Insect & Spider, Invertebrate

Citation: Stalter, L., Dorleus, T., Milone, N. et al. 2024. Tarantula welfare may be improved with greater environmental complexity: A preliminary behavioral study with Brazilian black tarantulas (Grammastola pulchra). PLOS ONE 19(12), e0314501.

Personality dimensions in the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

Understanding the origin, universality, and maintenance of among-individual variation in behaviour is a current focus of behavioural ecology and comparative psychology. Research on animal personality emphasising the central role of the individual contributes to conservation efforts and animal welfare by...

Year Published: 2024Topics: PersonalityAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Mazza, V., Pacchiarotti, G., Strinati, C. et al. 2024. Personality dimensions in the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). Behaviour 161(13–15), 913–948.

Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths

The behaviour and welfare of animals in captivity is of great importance to zoological collections, captive breeding programmes, food production and keepers of companion animals. Artificial lighting is commonly deficient in UV wavelengths, and use of such lighting for indoor...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Insect & Spider, Invertebrate

Citation: Thomas, R. K., Gay, A. P., Gwynn-Jones, D. et al. 2024. Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths. Animal Behaviour 214, 165–172.

Stress produces negative judgement bias in cuttlefish

Judgement bias tasks (JBTs) are used to assess the emotional state and welfare of animals in zoos, farms and laboratories, based on the interpretation of an ambiguous or intermediate cue. Animals in positive affective states are more likely to interpret...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Giancola-Detmering, S. E., Crook, R. J. 2024. Stress produces negative judgement bias in cuttlefish. Biology Letters 20(10), 20240228.

Effects of cold stress on the hemolymph of the Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei

Temperature is an important factor in the physiological processes of aquatic organisms and can seriously affect several chemical and biological processes in their bodies, including respiratory metabolism, antioxidant capacity, immune capacity, and signal transduction. In this study, physiological, transcriptomic, and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Zhu, J., Shi, W., Zhao, R. et al. 2024. Effects of cold stress on the hemolymph of the Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei. Fishes 9(1), 36.