This little creature is in the Cephalopoda class, which includes squid, octopus and nautilus.
Cephalopods means ‘head-armed’, the name simply comes from how they look! They have tentacles which are attached to their forehead, in-between the eyes. Cuttlefish have 10 tentacles, two of which are longer and used to catch prey and eight others, to bring the prey to their mouths. Their tentacles are as dexterous as a human hand or more so.
Cephalopods are the largest invertebrates on earth. The cuttlefish’s nervous system is very complex and powerful, it’s developed to a much higher degree then other molluscs. The flamboyant cuttlefish have complete conscious control over each cell in their body and they can change their skin colour or pattern in a blink of an eye. They can even change the texture of their skin, raising ridges and bumps or going smooth, all depending on their need to hide, or send a message to other animals.
The flamboyant cuttlefish is the only poisonous cuttlefish and one of the only three poisonous cephalopods. Their muscle tissue contains a highly potent and rare toxin that science still doesn’t fully understand. The bright colors that make this guy so flamboyant are a statement to the world. “Don’t eat me, or you will die.”
So hopefully you’ll see one if you visit, just don’t eat it!
