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.
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