Thursday, October 02, 2014
The cuttlefish
Cuttlefish or Sepias (Sepiidae)
The cuttlefish is a sea creature; it is not a fish but a
mollusk.
It is in the same class of marine animals known as
cephalopods, like the squid, the octopus and the nautilus.
The cuttlefish is nearer in similarity to the squid than the
octopus and the nautilus.
But while the squid has an internal transparent rigid pen
the cuttlefish has a cuttlebone.
This cuttlebone is shaped like a surfboard.
It is porous, and it enables the cuttlefish to regulate its
buoyancy.
This cuttlebone is very light and it often ends up as an art
object.
The cuttlefish has ten tentacles at the front of its head.
These consist of two big ones on the outer sides and six
smaller and shorter ones between them, and two others.
These two special ones which are normally not visible are
equipped with barbed suckers only at their end parts,
but they can shoot out at great speed to fasten on to its
prey.
The cuttlefish is able to change its colour very quickly and
camouflage itself just like the chameleon.
The eyes of the cuttlefish are also weird; their
appearance can change,
becoming slitty and sinister looking, like a flap covering
the dark mouth of a smiling fish.
The cuttlefish preys on small fish, mollusks, crabs, shrimp,
and worms.
Its predators include bigger fish, sharks, dolphins and
seals.
The cuttlefish is a bottom feeder.
It searches and exposes its prey by jetting a stream of
water at the sea bed,
and extending its two long tentacles to grab it.
Its other arms leave no escape for any prey thus caught.
Its ability to adapt its colour to its surroundings also
offers it its hunting stealth.
And
in times of danger it may squirt dark ink like a smokescreen and escape.
The cuttlefish may grow to over a foot long of its mantle
and weigh over ten kilograms.
It is not known to have a long lifespan, usually a few
years.
The cuttlefish can be a pleasant and enjoyable pet in an
aquarium.
It is peaceful, colourful and graceful at rest.
The wavy sides of its mantle undulate soothingly;
and it is exciting when it feeds on its live food.
# posted by chunmu @ 6:28 AM 
