Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish (/'kʌtəlfɪʃ/) are marine animals of the order Sepiida. They belong to the class Cephalopoda, which also includes squid, octopus, and nautilus. Cuttlefish have a unique internal shell, the cuttlebone, which is used for control of buoyancy.
Etymology
The term "cuttle" is derived from the Old English name for the species, cudele, which may be related to the Latin cotis, meaning "knife". The "fish" in "cuttlefish" is misleading, as cuttlefish are not fish but mollusks.
Anatomy
Cuttlefish have a large, elongated body with a fin that encircles the body. They have two large, W-shaped pupils, eight arms, and two tentacles furnished with denticulated suckers, with which they secure their prey. They generally range in size from 15 to 25 cm (5.9 to 9.8 in), with the largest species, Sepia apama, reaching 50 cm (20 in) in mantle length and over 10.5 kg (23 lb) in weight.
Behavior
Cuttlefish possess an incredible ability to rapidly alter their skin color at will. Their skin flashes a fast-changing pattern as communication to other cuttlefish and to camouflage them from predators. This color-changing function is produced by groups of red, yellow, brown, and black pigmented chromatophores above a layer of reflective iridophores and leucophores, with up to 200 of these specialized pigment cells per square millimeter.
Diet
Cuttlefish are carnivorous. They feed on small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish, octopus, worms, and other cuttlefish. Their predators include dolphins, sharks, fish, seals, seabirds, and other cuttlefish. The lifespan of cuttlefish is about one to two years.
Reproduction
Male cuttlefish challenge one another for dominance and the best den during mating season, while females choose males based on the quality of their courtship displays. Cuttlefish lay large numbers of eggs, which they carefully attach to the sea floor or to seaweed.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cuttlefish
- Wikipedia's article - Cuttlefish
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