Groundbreaking research from neuroscientists in France reveals possible evidence that cuttlefish may use specific arm movements to “wave” as a form of communication.
A new study by Sophie Cohen-Bodénès and Peter Neri from the École Normale Supérieure, France, provides compelling evidence that cuttlefish may communicate through unique arm-waving gestures. The preprint study, currently available on the bioRxiv server, explores how these fascinating cephalopods might use body language and vibrational signals to interact with one another.
Cuttlefish Communication: Beyond Color Changes
Cuttlefish are already well-known for their ability to change skin color rapidly—a skill they use for camouflage, hunting, and signaling. Past observations have also noted arm movements during territorial or mating displays, especially between rival males. But this new study delves deeper into the potential of these arm motions as a structured form of communication.
The Experiment: Watching and Waving
To investigate this behavior, the researchers placed cuttlefish in laboratory tanks and recorded their interactions. They observed that the cuttlefish consistently used four distinct arm wave patterns—termed up, side, roll, and crown. These gestures were then shown to other cuttlefish via video playback.
The results were striking: cuttlefish often waved back in response to the video stimuli, but only when the videos were played in their correct orientation. Upside-down playback significantly reduced the likelihood of a response, suggesting visual context is critical.
Vibrational Waves: Another Layer of Communication
Interestingly, the study also uncovered that these arm movements generate vibrational waves in the water—signals that could allow cuttlefish to communicate without direct visual contact. Using hydrophones, researchers captured these vibrations and played them back to the animals in both original and altered (scrambled or reversed) formats.
The cuttlefish only responded meaningfully to the original, unaltered recordings, indicating that the order and pattern of vibrations carry specific information—possibly akin to syntax in human language.
Machine Learning and Future Implications
While the findings are not yet conclusive, they strongly point toward a multimodal communication system in cuttlefish, combining movement and vibration. The researchers suggest that machine learning tools could be valuable in deciphering the specific meanings behind these gestures and wave patterns.
“Cuttlefish interact with multimodal ‘arm wave sign’ displays,” bioRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.04.13.648584
Final Thoughts
This study opens up exciting possibilities in marine animal behavior research. If confirmed, the ability of cuttlefish to “wave” as a form of communication could reshape our understanding of intelligence and social behavior in invertebrates.
Stay tuned as scientists dive deeper into the secret signals of the sea’s most enigmatic creatures.