Image by Head Ranger Sam Balderson
Plymouth Sound National Marine Park is home to an incredible array of marine life, but one of its most fascinating residents has to be the common cuttlefish. With its hypnotic camouflage skills, remarkable intelligence, and alien-like appearance, this marine marvel is truly a wonder of the deep!
What Makes the Common Cuttlefish So Special?
🦑 Masters of Disguise – Cuttlefish are camouflage champions, able to change the colour, texture, and pattern of their skin in the blink of an eye! They use this skill to evade predators, communicate with one another, and ambush prey. Their skin contains specialised cells called chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores, which work together to create dazzling displays.
🧠 Surprisingly Smart – These cephalopods are among the most intelligent invertebrates in the ocean! Studies have shown that they can solve puzzles, remember complex patterns, and even display problem-solving abilities akin to some vertebrates.
🌊 Jet-Powered Swimmers – Instead of traditional swimming, cuttlefish move using jet propulsion by rapidly expelling water through a funnel-like structure called a siphon. They also use their fin-like mantle to glide gracefully through the water.
🍽 Clever Hunters – With their lightning-fast tentacles, cuttlefish are expert ambush predators. They extend their two long feeding tentacles to snatch prey in a split second, feeding on crabs, shrimp, and small fish.
💙 They Have Three Hearts! – Like their squid and octopus cousins, cuttlefish have three hearts that pump blue-green blood, rich in copper-based hemocyanin instead of iron-based haemoglobin.
🦴 The Secret of the Cuttlebone – Ever found a cuttlebone washed up on the beach? This internal shell helps control buoyancy, allowing cuttlefish to adjust their position in the water column with ease. Fun fact: bird owners often give cuttlebones to their feathered friends as a source of calcium!
Where to Spot Them in Plymouth Sound
Common cuttlefish can often be found all around Plymouth Sound, particularly during the spring and summer breeding season. Look out for their eggs, sometimes called “sea grapes,” attached to seagrass and other structures.
Next time you’re exploring our waters, keep an eye out for these mesmerising marine marvels! Have you ever seen a cuttlefish in action? Upload your image to our Scenes of the Sound page 🦑💙