Cuttlefish are molluscs in the class Cephalopoda, along with octopus and squid, and are believed to be among the most intelligent invertebrates with a large brain-to-body size ratio.
They have eight arms, two suckered tentacles for hunting, and an internal shell called a cuttlebone. their blood is green-blue in color because it contains the copper-based pigment hemocyanin to carry oxygen. This protein carries significantly less oxygen than hemoglobin, and cuttlefish have three hearts that produce a rapid blood flow rate—one each for the animal’s pair of gills and another that pumps blood around the body.
Like some other cephalopods, they have an almost chameleon-like ability to rapidly change their coloring for camouflage and for communication.
Cuttlefish feed on fish and a variety of other invertebrates, including other cuttlefish. They themselves are eaten by a number of animals, such as dolphins, sharks, and sea birds.
They live for around one to two years, and lay batches of eggs, normally hidden away in holes. The juvenile develops inside the case, feeding on the yolk sack, until the moment of birth.
This video shows flamboyant cuttlefish hatching during a dive trip at the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
They have eight arms, two suckered tentacles for hunting, and an internal shell called a cuttlebone. their blood is green-blue in color because it contains the copper-based pigment hemocyanin to carry oxygen. This protein carries significantly less oxygen than hemoglobin, and cuttlefish have three hearts that produce a rapid blood flow rate—one each for the animal’s pair of gills and another that pumps blood around the body.
Like some other cephalopods, they have an almost chameleon-like ability to rapidly change their coloring for camouflage and for communication.
Cuttlefish feed on fish and a variety of other invertebrates, including other cuttlefish. They themselves are eaten by a number of animals, such as dolphins, sharks, and sea birds.
They live for around one to two years, and lay batches of eggs, normally hidden away in holes. The juvenile develops inside the case, feeding on the yolk sack, until the moment of birth.
This video shows flamboyant cuttlefish hatching during a dive trip at the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
