Flamboyant cuttlefish

Natural history

This small but feisty cuttlefish has eight arms and two tentacles. These leg-like appendages allow them to give the appearance as walking along the seafloor. Unlike other cuttlefish species, the flamboyant cuttlefish doesn’t dart away when threatened. Instead, they remain stationary, flashing a hypnotic color scheme and pulsing their fins. 

But it's important to note that this dazzling display is not their first response. Camouflage is the species’ primary mode of defense. They like to blend in with their environments, so you might not recognize them as the purple and gold creatures they are often photographed as. 

Flamboyant cuttlefish are highly poisonous, and the only cuttlefish known to be toxic. Their lifespan is about 18 to 24 months. Like all cuttlefish, this animal has a cuttlebone, a hard internal shell composed mainly of calcium carbonate. By adjusting the ratio of gas-to-liquid in the cuttlebone, cuttlefish are able to control their buoyancy. Unlike most other cephalopods that are active at night, flamboyant cuttlefish are active during the day. Their predators include seals, dolphins, and other fish. 

Reproduction

Despite their name, these cuttlefish only put on "flamboyant" displays while mating or as a second defense mechanism. 

Males put on colorful shows to attract females during breeding season in the spring. And “sneaker males” are known to alter their coloration to avoid aggressive males and gain access to females. 

Females will stay camouflaged as the males court them. If the female wants to mate with a male, she will signal to him. The male then quickly deposits sperm into the female, guarding her until the eggs are laid. When the hatchlings leave their eggs, they are fully formed and capable of camouflage and signaling. 

Both males and females die shortly after spawning. 

Conservation

Pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction are serious threats to these cephalopods. The disruption of seafloor sediment from human activity like bottom trawling threaten the flamboyant cuttlefish and other reef dwellers.

Cool facts

• A cuttlebone is composed of calcium. This calcareous cuttlebone is often fed to birds to whet their beaks or as calcium supplements.
• Unlike most other cephalopods that are nocturnal, flamboyant cuttlefish are active during the day and can be seen hunting crustaceans and small fishes.
• Flamboyant cuttlefish are the only cuttlefish species known to be toxic.
• Their pupils are W-shaped.