Animal Welfare Science

Invertebrate Sentience: Expanding the Circle

Growing evidence of sentience in some invertebrates including crustaceans, cephalopods, and potentially insects is expanding the boundaries of animal welfare concern.

Key Facts

Welfare Considerations

The expansion of sentience recognition to invertebrates represents a frontier in animal welfare. Decapod crustaceans experience pain from available evidence; the case for cephalopod sentience is compelling; insect and bee sentience evidence is growing. Each extension of the welfare circle to previously excluded species represents millions or billions of newly welfare-relevant individuals.

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