Creature Feature – Flamboyant Cuttlefish
The flamboyant cuttlefish is aptly named for its dazzling display of colours, which ripple across its body in shades of yellow, maroon, brown, white, and red. Rather than fleeing when threatened, this cuttlefish relies on its vivid colouration for defence. It remains still, pulsing its fins and flashing its hypnotic patterns to warn off potential predators. In addition to this striking display, toxicological studies of its muscle tissue suggest that the flamboyant cuttlefish is also highly poisonous.
Adapted to life near the ocean floor, the cuttlefish can hover gracefully as it searches for prey. Its body contains a thick, diamond-shaped cuttlebone that extends across two-thirds of its length, providing both buoyancy and stability.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Ascarosepion pfefferi
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Order: Sepiida
Family: Sepiidae
Genus: Ascarosepion
Flamboyant Cuttlefish Fact File
Size: 6cm to 8cm in length
Distribution: Found on coral reefs from Indonesia to eastern Papua New Guinea, across northern Australia, and in the eastern Indian Ocean
Diet: Crustaceans and small fishes
Behaviour: Unlike most cephalopods, which are nocturnal, flamboyant cuttlefish are active hunters during the day
IUCN Status: Data deficient
