Interspecific chemically mediated recognition in two competing stomatopods

Abstract

The stomatopods Gonodactylus zacae and G. bahiahondensis occur sympatrically along the Pacific coast of Central America and appear to be in competition for cavities in hard substrates. To test if individuals of one species can distinguish among the odours of the other species, G. zacae were exposed to cavities occupied by G. bahiahondensis and were defeated by the resident. Later, the G. zacae were given the opportunity to enter cavities containing either the odours of the previous residents that had just defeated them or the odours of other, unknown G. bahiahondensis. The G. zacae were cautious, but entered the cavities containing the odours of the unknown animals. They took strong defensive action against and/or avoided cavities containing the odours of the animals that had defeated them. This suggests the ability of G. zacae to learn to identify, using chemical cues, individuals of another species.