Data and code from: Watching the watchers: Emperor cichlids can perceive attention toward their offspring by divers

Gaze is a pivotal signal in animal societies, shaping not only predator
avoidance but also social interaction. However, researchremains scarce
across many groups, limiting broad comparisons of gaze sensitivity among
vertebrates. In this study, we examined whether the gaze of human divers
directed towards the eggs (or fry) guarded by parental emperor
cichlids, Boulengerochromis microlepis—one of the largest cichlid
species-altered aggressive behaviour towards divers. Emperor cichlids
attacked divers significantly more often when divers looked directly at
the eggs than when they averted their gaze or turned their fins towards
the clutch, and the attack rate was similar to when divers stared at the
guarding parents. Conversely, the time fish spent near divers was greatest
when divers oriented their fins towards the eggs. These findings suggest
that fish may possess a rudimentary form of ‘attention attribution’—the
ability to recognise where another individual’s focus lies. Consequently,
we may need to account for the role of ‘gaze’ in shaping wildlife
responses within ecotourism and conservation contexts.