Circularly Polarized Light as a Communication Signal in Mantis Shrimps

Animals that communicate using conspicuous body patterns face a trade-off between desired detection by intended receivers and undesired detection from eavesdropping predators, prey, rivals, or parasites [1–10]. In some cases, this trade-off favors the evolution of signals that are both hidden from predators and visible to conspecifics. Animals may produce covert signals using a property of light that is invisible to those that they wish to evade, allowing them to hide in plain sight (e.g., dragonfish can see their own, otherwise rare, red bioluminescence [11–13]). The use of the polarization of light is a good example of a potentially covert communication channel, as very few vertebrates are known to use polarization for object-based vision [14, 15]. However, even these patterns are vulnerable to eavesdroppers, as sensitivity to the linearly polarized component of light is widespread among invertebrates due to their intrinsically polarization sensitive photoreceptors [14, 16]. Stomatopod crustaceans appear to have gone one step further in this arms race and have evolved a sensitivity to the circular polarization of light, along with body patterns producing it [17]. However, to date we have no direct evidence that any of these marine crustaceans use this modality to communicate with conspecifics. We therefore investigated circular polarization vision of the mantis shrimp Gonodactylaceus falcatus [18] and demonstrate that (1) the species produces strongly circularly polarized body patterns, (2) they discriminate the circular polarization of light, and (3) that they use circular polarization information to avoid occupied burrows when seeking a refuge. •Gonodactylaceus falcatus has circularly polarized patterns on its body•It can discriminate unpolarized light from circularly polarized light•This species shows a natural aversion to circularly polarized burrows•G. falcatus may, therefore, be using circular polarization as a covert signal The mantis shrimp is the only animal known to discriminate circularly polarized light. Here, Gagnon et al. demonstrate, for the first time, a behavior in these crustaceans that solely depends on circular polarization. They conclude that mantis shrimps may use circular polarization to secretly advertise their presence to aggressive competitors.