Anthropology News, Science News

Here is a little video of the Cuttlefish and its flamboyent colours

This species is well worth highlighting for its beauty and rarity. They are highly prized on a divers must see list. Distribution, central indo region, southern Philippines to Northern Australia.

Once discovered, instead of leaving the area they will usually stay in the same place for some months so revisiting is possible. Rather than seeing this species swimming they prefer to walk the substrate on two front tentacles and two skin flaps located on the underbelly, this is clearly illustrated within our field guide images. Look for the sandy appearance on the "walking" front tentacles and the underbelly skin flaps, this is where the creature makes contact with the substrate.

They are active in daylight hours and their coloration is generally brown to match the substrate (darker in Indonesia due to darker sand).

They show flamboyant displays of red, yellow, white and pink chevrons that move up and down their bodies pulsating in a mesmerizing rhythm. Like other cuttlefish they produce instant colour changes.

Their elaborate coloration may indicate a poisonous bite like its cousin the Blue Ringed Octopus.

Their maximum size is approx. 10cm. Imperial Partner Shrimps live a symbiotic relationship with many creatures including cuttlefish for more information please visit our Marine Biology Crustacean page.