Rapid taste aversion learning in adult cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis

The common cuttlefish is an opportunistic predator with certain prey preferences. The literature suggests that learning plays a role in the predatory behaviour of cuttlefish. However, nothing is known about taste aversion learning in cephalopods. We developed a learning procedure in which the preferred prey of the experimental cuttlefish was made distasteful by a bitter taste (quinine). In the training session, the modified prey was repeatedly presented until the experimental cuttlefish stopped attacking it. Of 32 experimental cuttlefish, 26 attacked a different prey from the originally preferred one when both were presented in a choice test 24 or 72 h after learning. In contrast, matched control cuttlefish that had not been subjected to negative reinforcement continued to choose the initially preferred prey under identical test conditions. These results are the first demonstration of taste aversion learning in cephalopods. They underline essential adaptive functions in cuttlefish and the flexibility of their feeding behaviour. Cuttlefish were able to learn that a prey is not acceptable food, even if they usually preyed on it, to recognize it and to avoid it for several days and as a result to eat a usually nonpreferred prey.