Cuttlefish 28cm - Stuffed Toy

Physical Characteristics
Cuttlefish have an internal shell (cuttlebone), large W-shaped pupils, eight arms and two tentacles covered with denticulated suckers with which they secure their prey. The cuttlebone (unique to cuttlefish) is porous and composed of aragonite, provides the cuttlefish with buoyancy. Buoyancy can be regulated by changing the gas-to-liquid ratio in the chambered cuttlebone via the ventral siphuncle. Each species has a distinct shape, size and pattern of ridges or texture on the cuttlebone. Cuttlefish are photochromic, and are sometimes referred to as the chameleon of the sea because of their remarkable ability to rapidly alter their skin color at will. Cuttlefish eyes are among the most developed in the animal kingdom. The head is located at the base of the mantle with two large eyes on either side and a beaklike jaw in the center. The jaws are encircled by eight pairs of arms and two longer tentacles that can be retracted completely into the body. Adults can be recognized by the white lines branching from the base of the flared third arms.

Habitat
In Britain, the Cuttlefish is found around Southern and Western coasts. Elsewhere, the species is found in the Eastern Atlantic from the Baltic Sea to South Africa and also in the Mediterranean.

Behaviour
Recent studies indicate that cuttlefish are among the most intelligent invertebrate species. Cuttlefish skin flashes a fast-changing pattern as communication to other cuttlefish and to camouflage them from predators. The name Sepia refers to the type of ink it houses within its body. This ink is used to deceive large predators when they try to attack the cuttlefish. When a predator is near, the ink is shot out into the water to confuse the predator, while the cuttlefish swims to safety.

Breeding
The reproductive cycles of cuttlefish occur year round, with spikes in mating during the months of March and June. Cuttlefish have large eggs, 6-9 mm in diameter, deposited in clumps on the bottom of the sea. The eggs are colored with ink, which helps them to better blend into the background. The young hatch with a nutritious yolk that will support them until they are able to secure food for themselves.

Diet
Cuttlefish eat small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish, octopuses and other cuttlefish.

Strange and Interesting Facts
The blood of a cuttlefish is an unusual shade of green-blue because it uses the copper-containing protein hemocyanin to carry oxygen instead of the red iron-containing protein hemoglobin that is found in mammals.