Acquired predator recognition via epidermal alarm cues but not dietary alarm cues by isolated pupfish.

We tested whether Shoshone pupfish and Amargosa River pupfish respond behaviourally to conspecific chemical alarm cues released when epidermal tissue is damaged by a predator. We found that both subspecies reduced activity and vertical position in the water column in response to alarm cues. We then tested if pupfish can use alarm cue to acquire recognition of a novel predator.