Cuttlefish belong to the class of Cephalopods, one of the most intelligent group of animals in our oceans.
They only live for a few years. They can change their colouring to match their surroundings or to attract the opposite sex, to attract prey, to communicate with other cuttlefish or even to act as a warning to their predators. In addition to changing their colour they can also mimic their surroundings by erecting the papillae on its body to make their appearance rigid. Their eyes are very complex and fully formed when born, with some scientists suggesting they can see from within the egg. Cuttlefish have an internal shell (cuttlebone) which is often seen on beaches and sold by the pet trade to feed to caged birds. They have eight arms and and two "sucker" tentacles which they use to grab their prey. Cuttlefish eat small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish and other cuttlefish. Their predators in Sydney include sharks, fish and other cuttlefish.
They only live for a few years. They can change their colouring to match their surroundings or to attract the opposite sex, to attract prey, to communicate with other cuttlefish or even to act as a warning to their predators. In addition to changing their colour they can also mimic their surroundings by erecting the papillae on its body to make their appearance rigid. Their eyes are very complex and fully formed when born, with some scientists suggesting they can see from within the egg. Cuttlefish have an internal shell (cuttlebone) which is often seen on beaches and sold by the pet trade to feed to caged birds. They have eight arms and and two "sucker" tentacles which they use to grab their prey. Cuttlefish eat small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish and other cuttlefish. Their predators in Sydney include sharks, fish and other cuttlefish.
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Mourning Cuttlefish (Sepia Plangon)
The Mourning Cuttlefish is named so due to the blue colouring around the eye. They grow up to around 15cm in length. They can often be seen resting on the sea floor using two front tentacles as legs. |
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Red Cuttlefish (Sepia Mestus)
The Red or Reaper Cuttlefish has a yellow eye socket and short tentacles. Often seen in red they have two dark circle spots towards their back. |
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Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia Apama)
The largest of all the cuttlefish. They are usually hiding in rocky overhangs or in the kelp and since they are excellent at colour change and can raise parts of their skin to shape and texture. |
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Striped Pyjama Squid (Sepioloidea lineolata)
Named as a squid this is actually a species of cuttlefish. Seen buried in the sand they mostly come out at night when hunting. This is a small and elusive species seen in Sydney. |