First Records of Wild Octopus (<i>Octopus vulgaris</i>) Preying on Adult Invasive Blue Crabs (<i>Callinectes sapidus</i>).

ABSTRACT: The Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, has rapidly expanded its invasive range ubiquitously in the Mediterranean Sea, posing ecological threats to native ecosystems. In its native habitat, the crab plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, but in invaded areas, it lacks natural predators. This has led to rapid expansion, highlighting the need to monitor and understand biological interactions with the native community. This study reports, for the first time in the wild, the predation of the invasive blue crab by the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, in the Mediterranean Sea. Three sequences (two videos and a photography series) recorded by two spearfisherman (observation 1 and 2) and a recreational SCUBA diver (observation 3) are described. This article highlights the impor

SUBMITTER: Fernandez J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11806378 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature