Pages

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Cephalopod I: The Enigmatic Cuttlefish

Sepiodea Family: Cuttlefish
The Order of Cephalopods known as the cuttlefish are a remarkably intelligent and agile invertebrate that can manipulate their buoyancy with carefully controlled gas-to-lquid ratios within their internal cuttlebone (made of porous argonite). They possess three hearts, two to enhance flow and pressure to their gills, and use hemocyanin pigmented, blue-green blood to carry the vital hormones and nutrients that allow them to be the sophisticated hunters in the oceans.
Roger Hanlon describes some of the interesting features of the cuttlefish:






Cuttlefish employ the use of a sepia-colored ink stored in an ink sac that can be used to confuse and deter predators when accurately and forcefully squirted. They have eight, sucker-laced arms and two, impressively quick and accurate tentacles for capturing and holding onto prey once it has been caught. Their reinforced beaks and effective tongue-teeth, known as radula (pictured above), make quick mince meat out of their favorite crustacean prey item.


The following clip shows a brave, feisty cuttlefish attacking an octopus.

Click this link to show the fascinating workings of the 200 cells/square millimeter chromatophores that allow a cuttlefish to produce the dazzling array of colors.

No comments:

Post a Comment