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Flamboyant cuttlefish Metasepia pfefferi
Known from Mabul, Malaysian Borneo across Indonesia to Papua New Guinea and into northern Australia, the Flamboyant Cuttlefish, as its name suggests is the most colourful of all the smaller cuttlefishes. Although the common name of cuttlefish comes from ancient times when most things that swam were fish, the name still persists even though cuttlefish are molluscs.
The species is generally found in muddy sand, along silty reef edges and amongst bottom debris or rubble on soft bottom. In camouflage mode they are extremely difficult to see during the day and appear to be easier to find at night. They actively hunt shrimps both day and night and are extremely successful hunters; approaching prey on their slow, ambling motion, walking along on the lower arms and side flaps. The speed of the cheek pouch hunting tentacles strike is amazing to watch.
They grow to around eight cm and in general it appears that pairs may be sexually dimorphic with males being smaller. Pairs mate face to face, with the male transferring sperm to a pouch beneath the females mouth. Eggs are large and generally laid beneath a rock or dead coral slab or inside old logs, even in overturned coconut shells. The round white eggs become clearer as the young develops and pigment increases to where, upon hatching, they resemble their parents.
It seems that the flamboyant colour pattern (which they turn on the instant they are disturbed) is advertising. The bright colours and the slow shuffling gait might give the impression that the cuttlefish is a bad-tasting (poisonous) opisthobranch.
An extraordinary and very engaging critter, the Flambuoyant Cuttlefish is on the must-see list of every diver. (Milne Bay PNG)
(Photo Neville Coleman)
Blending into its natural habitat the Flamboyant Cuttlefish looks anything but flamboyant. It has mimicked the colours of its surroundings and changed its profile by producing skin filaments and the grainy appearance of the substrate (Anilao, Philippines).
(Photo Neville Coleman)
When disturbed this specimen has switched on the first stage of its warning colouration (Anilao,Philippines).
(Photo Neville Coleman)
These eggs have been laid beneath a rotten plank fallen from nearby jetty. The young can be seen developing through the sides of the translucent capsules (Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea)
(Photo Neville Coleman)
Recently hatched at a size of 15mm this juvenile was discovered at 20 metres under a bivalve shell on a sandy channel bottom (Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea).
(PHoto Neville Coleman)
The ever changing colour changing pulsations of the Flambuoyant Cuttlefish make this beautiful creature one of nature's most creative creatures and certainly, it is aptly named.
(Photo Neville Coleman)