Pain in aquatic animals

Abstract

Recent research suggests that various aquatic species, including molluscs, crustaceans, and fish, possess the capacity for pain perception. Studies on bony fish have demonstrated the presence of nociceptors similar to those in mammals, along with pain-related physiological and behavioral changes that are alleviated by analgesics. While pain perception in invertebrates remains more contentious due to the absence of a vertebrate brain, recent findings indicate behavioral alterations in response to potentially painful stimuli. This review explores the field of pain perception in aquatic species, focusing on fish and select invertebrates, to illuminate the physiological and evolutionary underpinnings of pain. Recognizing the possibility of pain experience in these animals raises ethical considerations regarding human use of such species.