Cuttle fish are mollusks, they are related to the octopus and
squid. They have no backbone, they are made up of mostly protein,
so they require a high protein diet. They have tentacles that
can shoot out roughly a foot and a half, and they are very accurate
for catching live prey. They have an advanced eye which is similar
to ours They change colors regularly and often. Researchers have
shown that cuttle fish use these color changes as a way to communicate.
They have identified over 50 "words" which cuttle fish use. When
other fish (and humans in cases of captivity) get too close to
them, the males develop two black spots on their lower back. Cannibalism
is common among cuttle fish especially around mating season. They
live around the European coasts and off the coast of Japan. Cuttle
fish only live for about a year.
Go to MRC Page 1 - Marine Resources Center
Go to MRC Page 2 - Tidepool organisms
Go to MRC Page 3 - Sting rays & Sharks
Go to MRC Page 5 - Interesting fish
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