Visual-chemotactic saltatory search in Octopus hummelincki (Mollusca, Cephalopoda): a case study in the South Atlantic

Michaella Pereira Andrade, Flavio Ayrosa, Charles MD Santos, Jennifer Mather

We report for the first time evidence of foraging by Octopus hummelincki and analyze it using saltatory search theory, which posits alternating phases of locomotion and stationary search. Our data showed that substrate complexity dictates behavioral transitions: locomotion predominated in sand, whereas solid substrates elicited tactile exploration. The move-to-search scaling ratio (0.63) aligns with the 2/3 power-law prediction for optimal intermittent searchers. Poke duration was shorter when preceding successful captures than during unsuccessful ones. These findings suggest that O. hummelincki employs optimized, multisensory-integrated search strategies, in which the move-pause balance reflects high-level cognitive processing. The integration of visual and chemotactile information minimizes energy expenditure and maximizes predatory success in benthic environments.