Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with Burrowing
The octopus keel is a trait that has been hypothesized to be connected with burrowing in octopuses, but has never been explored in any detail. We investigated the association between these two traits using two approaches. First, we examined the phylogenetic correlation between the presence of a keel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/9/1204 |
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| author | Cheyne Springbett Katie Cordero Garrett Ellis Carly Haeger Kirt L. Onthank |
| author_facet | Cheyne Springbett Katie Cordero Garrett Ellis Carly Haeger Kirt L. Onthank |
| author_sort | Cheyne Springbett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The octopus keel is a trait that has been hypothesized to be connected with burrowing in octopuses, but has never been explored in any detail. We investigated the association between these two traits using two approaches. First, we examined the phylogenetic correlation between the presence of a keel and known burrowing behavior in cirrate octopuses. Second, burrowing and non-burrowing captive <i>Muusoctopus leioderma</i> were evaluated for keel prominence to determine whether the keel is lost more rapidly in non-burrowing individuals. Pagel’s test for the coevolution of binary characteristics showed the model of best fit for the resulting phylogenetic tree to be one of evolutionary interdependence, and that non-burrowing <i>Muusoctopus leioderma</i> lost their keels over time, while burrowing individuals maintained their keels. Together, these results indicate the keel may be a trait associated with burrowing in octopuses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:01:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef60b28f01c14a299453f222f0f0f906 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:01:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef60b28f01c14a299453f222f0f0f9062023-11-19T09:38:30ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-09-01129120410.3390/biology12091204Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with BurrowingCheyne Springbett0Katie Cordero1Garrett Ellis2Carly Haeger3Kirt L. Onthank4Department of Biological Sciences, Walla Walla University, College Place, WA 99324, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Walla Walla University, College Place, WA 99324, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Walla Walla University, College Place, WA 99324, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Walla Walla University, College Place, WA 99324, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Walla Walla University, College Place, WA 99324, USAThe octopus keel is a trait that has been hypothesized to be connected with burrowing in octopuses, but has never been explored in any detail. We investigated the association between these two traits using two approaches. First, we examined the phylogenetic correlation between the presence of a keel and known burrowing behavior in cirrate octopuses. Second, burrowing and non-burrowing captive <i>Muusoctopus leioderma</i> were evaluated for keel prominence to determine whether the keel is lost more rapidly in non-burrowing individuals. Pagel’s test for the coevolution of binary characteristics showed the model of best fit for the resulting phylogenetic tree to be one of evolutionary interdependence, and that non-burrowing <i>Muusoctopus leioderma</i> lost their keels over time, while burrowing individuals maintained their keels. Together, these results indicate the keel may be a trait associated with burrowing in octopuses.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/9/1204octopusburrowingkeel<i>Muusoctopus leioderma</i>sedimentphylogeny |
| spellingShingle | Cheyne Springbett Katie Cordero Garrett Ellis Carly Haeger Kirt L. Onthank Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with Burrowing Biology octopus burrowing keel <i>Muusoctopus leioderma</i> sediment phylogeny |
| title | Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with Burrowing |
| title_full | Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with Burrowing |
| title_fullStr | Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with Burrowing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with Burrowing |
| title_short | Mysterious Morphology: An Investigation of the Octopus Keel and Its Association with Burrowing |
| title_sort | mysterious morphology an investigation of the octopus keel and its association with burrowing |
| topic | octopus burrowing keel <i>Muusoctopus leioderma</i> sediment phylogeny |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/9/1204 |
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