Scuba Diver Ocean Planet Issue 06/2016 | Page 62

OCEANS’ 11

Cephalopods

Cephalopods are amazing creatures, with over 800 species
around the world. Widely regarded as the most intelligent of the
invertebrates, they have well-developed senses and large brains.
With complete conscious control over each skin cell, they can
change colour, pattern and texture in the blink of an eye.
Here are just 11 of this vast family of magical creatures.
Text by GILL MCDONALD

1

© Gill McDonald

PYGMY CUTTLEFISH
This perfect tiny little
cuttlefish is found on coral
reefs and shallow sandy
areas. It often walks along
the sand using a third pair
of arms. It is most active
at night when it hunts
crustaceans and small fish.
Here, in the blink of an
eye, it caught an unwary
banded boxer shrimp and
is slowing drawing it into
its body.

SDOP

60

© Gill McDonald

2

COMMON OCTOPUS
The common octopus hunts mostly
crabs at dusk, although it will eat almost
anything it can catch. It can change colour
to blend in with its surroundings, and is
able to jump on prey that wanders near.
The prey is paralysed by a nerve poison
in the saliva. If the victim is a shelled
mollusc, the octopus uses its beak to
punch a hole in the shell before sucking
out the fleshy contents.