Cuttlefish Facts

Cuttlefish as their name suggests are not actually fish; these sea animals are mollusks, which are amongst the most intelligent species. These are very clever when it comes to changing their color and patterns to suit the environment. The cuttlefish is found in areas of the English Channel, along the West coast of Africa to the Southern tip of the continent and also in the Mediterranean Sea. The cuttlefish belongs to the Sepiida class which also includes the Squids, the Octopus and the Nautiluses.

Facts about the Cuttlefish
The cuttlefish has tentacles along with a mantle that had a calcium based 'cuttlebone' which forms the shape of the body. The cuttlefish also has two fins, which wrap around the mantle. This starts just behind the head, on each side of the body, and ends up on the back of the mantle. The eyes of the cuttlefish jut out from the front of the face. They have eight arms and two tentacles, which consist of denticulated suckers. Between the tentacles, one can find a beak-like mouth.

The cuttlefish are also called the chameleon of the sea. They have a very great ability to change their pattern for various purposes. The change of coloration is due to the special cells called chromatophores. The cells change colors when the individual cells expand or contract. Therefore, the cuttlefish are known to blend into many backgrounds with ease. The cuttlefish can therefore change into colors of gold, green, silver, blue etc.

Cuttlefish can swim with the help of the narrow fins that surround the body. These help to propel themselves forward through the water by jetting water from the mantle cavity through a siphon. The eyes of the cuttlefish are amongst the most developed in the animal kingdom. The cuttlefish are unable to see color but they can perceive the polarization of light. These have two areas of concentrated sensor cells on the retina. One is used to look forward and the other, to look backward.

These creatures eject protein-based ink (like a squid) when they feel threatened. This is used to frighten and confuse predators as well. This ink is ejected as a form of a cloud which helps the cuttlefish escape. The cuttlefish generally feed on crabs, shrimp, fish, mollusks and even other cuttlefish as well. The cuttlefish themselves are caught for food, as the dried shredded cuttlefish is a very popular snack in East Asia. It is also used in Risotto al Nero di; which means black cuttlefish rice. This is because the cuttlefish ink gives the rice the color black.

A strange fact about the cuttlefish is that it can adopt the female coloration along one side of the body as well as retain the male coloration on the other side. Male cuttlefish are extremely alert when it comes to the females, especially if she is laying the eggs. The male will guard aggressively over the female and this is when another approaching male will use his ability to have a dual look to access the female and trick the male.

If you are highly interested in observing the cuttlefish in person, then as a diver, you must view the cuttlefish only to the point it is not disturbed or feels threatened. You do not really want to get on to the wrong side of the cuttlefish! This is because a cuttlefish can even hypnotize a prey. Here, they point the tips of the arms towards the potential victims and run skinny bands of color from the back of the body and towards the tips of the tentacles. This gives an appearance of concentric circles that flow towards the onlooker. So, the trick is to keep a safe distance and watch this mysterious creature go about an ordinary day!