Excel and R script file

This study investigates how social context influences the responses of Neohelice granulata to a moving stimulus (dummy) that can be perceived as either prey or predator. It shows that paired crabs, regardless of sex, display lower exploratory activity and a reduced probability of responding to the stimulus compared to solitary crabs, but only when they are within 15 cm of each other. In the presence of a conspecific, crabs initiate escape or predatory responses at shorter distances, suggesting delayed decision-making due to divided attention. In contrast, freezing distance remains unchanged. Overall, the results reveal that social proximity selectively modulates active responses, highlighting an interaction between social context, attention, and decision-making in these crabs.