Hypnotizing, camouflaging, what can't they do?!
The cuttlefish is an invertebrate related to the octopus, squid, and nautilus. The 120 different species of cuttlefish live in most of the worlds oceans, and though usually spotted in shallow water, are also found at depths of more than 3,000 feet deep. Cuttlefish are mostly solitary creatures, and are one of the most intelligent invertebrates.
Appearance
Cuttlefish have eight arms and two longer tentacles attached to their head. The mantle, the area behind the eyes and containing the cuttlefishes internal organ, is surrounded by a fringe like fin that cuttlefish use to move. Cuttlefish have the ability to change color and texture, so they always appear different.
Intelligence
Cuttlefish have one of the largest brain to body ratio of invertebrates. They can count, remember where they last ate, and even pass the marshmallow test, which was originally created to test human toddlers delayed gratification.
The Marshmallow Test
In the original marshmallow test, children were offered the choice between eating one marshmallow immediately, or waiting to get two. Cuttlefish have been proven to have the ability to pass this test. After determining that cuttlefish liked live shrimp more than dead shrimp, cuttlefish were given two clear boxes - one opening right away with dead shrimp inside, and one opening after a few minutes, with live shrimp. The cuttlefish chose to wait and eat the live shrimp, rather than eat the dead shrimp immediately.
Abilities
Cuttlefish can change the color and texture of their body, able to disguise themselves almost perfectly into coral or the sandy sea floor. The broadclub cuttlefish uses their camouflage to make wavy patterns of light along their body, seeming to hypnotize their prey into staying still, where the cuttlefish uses its two tentacles to carry the prey into its beaked mouth. The pharaoh cuttlefish is able to do a remarkable imitation of a hermit crab as well, and though scientists are not completely sure why, a theory is that it's a technique for catching smaller fish.
Fun Facts
Though having amazing camouflage abilities, cuttlefish are color blind!
Cuttlefish woo a female on one side of its body, flashing courtship colors, and pretending to be a female on the other side to trick a male! This is so the male just sees two females rather than another threatening male.
While attempting to get away from a predator, cuttlefish squirt out clouds of ink mixed with mucus in a shape similar to themselves to confuse predators.
Cuttlefish camouflaged into coral
Pharaoh cuttlefish pretending to be hermit crab
Cuttlefish disguised as sand
Cuttlefish mesmerizing its prey
Comments