Cuttlefish

Geographic Range Sepia officinalis is generally found in the eastern North Atlantic, throughout the English Channel, and south into the Mediterranean Sea so it is often referred to as the "European Cuttlefish". However, populations have also been recorded along the west coast of Africa, and as far south as South Africa. ( • Biogeographic Regions • • • mediterranean sea • Habitat Sepia officinalis is a marine organism, categorized as a “shallow water cephalopod”, dwelling in sandy or muddy substrates. Its habitat ranges from subtidal waters to depths of 200 meters. Members of this species follow seasonal migrations. They spend spring and summer in inshore waters, then migrate to depths of 100 m to 200 m during autumn and winter. Sepia officinalis commonly spends the daytime hidden in sand. ( • Habitat Regions • • • Aquatic Biomes • • • Range depth 0 to 200 m 0.00 to 656.17 ft Physical Description Sepia officinalis measures up to 45 cm in mantle length, ranging from 30 cm in subtropic areas to 49 cm in temperate areas. Weights are between 2 kg (subtropic areas) and 4 kg (temperate areas). The largest recorded individual reached a mantle length of 60 cm. European cuttlefish have large eyes and a mouth with beak like jaws located at the base of the mantle. The mantle houses reproductive and digestive organs, as well an internal shell called the cuttlebone. The cuttlebone shape is oblong with a rounded posterior end and an anterior end that tapers to a point. The body of S. off...

Description of the Cuttlefish Like their cousin the squid, These creatures have a long mantle. However, unlike squid, which have two triangular fins on either side of the mantle, s have a single, long, undulating fin running down either side of their mantle. There are many species of cuttlefish, and they range drastically in size. While the average cuttlefish is 6 – 10 in. long, the largest species can grow up to 20 in. long! Interesting Facts About the Cuttlefish Don’t let their appearance or size fool you, these creatures are remarkably intelligent. Just like their cousin the octopus, cuttlefish are surprisingly intelligent compared to other invertebrates. • Weird Eyes – Unlike humans and many other animals, which have round pupils, cuttlefish have “W” shaped pupils. Their odd eyes are unique because they have no blind spots at all. These cephalopods can see in objects front of them, and objects behind them, at the same time. • Cuttlebone – While fish have a swim bladder, and sharks have an oil-filled liver, cuttlefish have a different way to remain buoyant in the water. They use a porous structure, conveniently called a cuttlebone, to stay neutrally buoyant. This allows them to “float” in place in the water, without sinking or rising. No other animal, not even other cephalopods, have the same structure. • Safe to Eat? – Before chowing down on, or playing with, any cuttlefish you find, it is important to remember that some species can be dangerous. A few species have tox...

While cuttlefish can be enjoyed all over the world, they tend to inhabit waters that are relatively warm and shallow, avoiding depths lower than 650 feet. They especially seem to congregate in seagrass meadows and reefs. You are most likely to find these creatures in the waters surrounding Europe, Africa, Australia, and parts of Asia. Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of cuttlefish in the Americas, meaning that it's not always easy to find them fresh in your local supermarket. The good news, however, is that plenty of cuttlefish are frozen on fishing boats shortly after they are captured. This allows professional chefs and home cooks alike to order them to their kitchens. They can then prepare this rich, umami-flavored mollusk in any number of ways, from on the grill to in the frying pan. As cephalopods, cuttlefish have a head and a foot, which merge together to form their bodies. Their eight stubby arms and two long tentacles stem off their heads, forming a circular pattern. If you flip a cuttlefish over and look at the soft ring of flesh that lies beneath its arms, you'll see a round, hard beak. When in the wild, the animal uses this to help overpower its prey or even defend itself in brawls with larger ocean creatures. Folks who purchase fresh cuttlefish directly from the docks will probably notice the animal's eyes, which are quite prominent. Interestingly, cuttlefish don't typically have one fixed color — they're one of the few animals that can shift their color. Cutt...

Despite their name, cuttlefish (also known as cuttles) arenot fish. They areinvertebratesand close relative to the octopus,squid, and nautilus. Those animals are the sea’s expert camouflagers and are among the most clever animals on the planet. You’ll be astounded when you learn more about the incredible cuttlefish facts listed below! Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1. Cuttlefish is the king of camouflage Despite being colorblind, this creature is an expert at concealment. Cuttlefish camouflage in a variety of ways, including changing their color, pattern, texture, and even shape to imitate anything in their surroundings. – They canchange colorto blend in with their environments There’s a reason why they call cuttlefish the chameleon of the sea. They can change the color of their skin in less than one second to match their surroundings. They can even change the color to every colorful rock and coral they swim by. And if that doesn’t impress you enough, check this out! The color they change is not only still but also moving. To do this, cuttles change color in fast rhythms, giving the illusion that there are color waves rolling across their bodies. The attractive light show is a method of helping cuttles in catching prey. So how do cuttlefish change colors?Cuttlefish skin has chromatophores which are pigment-producing cells and leucophores which are light-reflecting cells. And every square millimeter of the cuttlefish’s skin, there are about 200 of these...

Cuttlefish ( Sepia officinalis) • Type: Cephalopod • Family: Sepiidae • Habitat: Shallow reefs and marine channels. • Location: Globally distributed in marine waters • Diet: Mollusks and crustaceans, especially shrimp and crab. • Average lifespan in the wild: 1-2 years • Size: 20-30 in (50-75 cm) • Weight: 11 lbs (5 kg) Cuttlefish, along with octopuses and squid, are cephalopods—animals from an ancient branch of the tree of life that have been trolling the oceans for more than 500 million years. Cuttlefish were around long before the first shark or fish ever evolved. Their cephalopod ancestors were encased in a shell that acted as protection from predators, but the modern cuttlefish has developed an even better defense: camouflage. A cuttlefish’s skin contains over twenty million chromatophores, cells of pigment attached to miniscule muscles. By gently flexing these muscles, the cuttlefish releases pigment into the outer layer of its skin, allowing it to control its coloration and body pattern to emulate virtually any surroundings and thereby hide in plain sight. The cuttlefish’s highly specialized skin also helps it hunt, communicate, and mate. Males aggressively ripple and flash at rival males in competition for access to females. The larger and more impressive male usually wins, but sometimes a smaller male can successfully mate via female impersonation; if a small male can grab a female and quickly disguise himself to look like her, the larger male may not notice the t...