Use of cues by Lipophrys pholis L. (Teleostei, Blenniidae) in learning the position of a refuge.

The ability of Lipophrys pholis to remember the position of a refuge was tested in an artificial habitat under the influence of different visual clues. L. pholis learned the position of the refuge in the presence of a clue consisting only of a small black screen. They responded to this clue by moving towards it and pressing themselves up against it. Lego towers and a white screen clue did not provoke such a response. In a further experiment L. pholis continued to respond to the black screen in this way when the screen was moved to another location further from the refuge. After 12 days L. pholis learned to use the black screen in its new position as an indirect clue and navigate to the refuge directly without first approaching the black screen. These results suggested that when placed in a novel habitat the immediate reaction of L. pholis is to move quickly towards the first dark area they see but, with experience, they can use the position of large objects around them to navigate quickly and efficiently to a refuge.