Cuttlefish: Difference between revisions

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Cuttlefish have an internal shell, large eyes, and ten arms furnished with denticulated suckers, by means of which it secures its prey. The name is sometimes applied to dibranchiate cephalopods generally.

Cuttlefish are caught for food, though squid is more popular. They are probably best known today for the [[shoehorn]] shaped piece of tough material given to [[parakeet]]s as a bill-sharpener and source of dietary [[calcium]]. Called the cuttlebone, it is composed of [[calcium carbonate]] and is porous to provide the cuttlefish with [[buoyancy]].

Cuttlefish are caught for food, though squid is more popular. They

are probably best known today for the [[shoehorn]] shaped piece of tough material given to [[parakeet]]s as a bill-sharpener and source of dietary [[calcium]]. Called the cuttlebone, it is composed of [[calcium carbonate]] and is porous to provide the cuttlefish with [[buoyancy]].

Cuttlefish are sometimes called the [[chameleon]] of the sea because of their remarkable ability to rapidly alter their skin color. Their skin flashes a fast-changing pattern as communication to other individual of the same species, as well as serving as [[camouflage]] from predators.

Cuttlefish have ink, like squids. This ink was formerly an important [[dye]], called [[sepia]]. Today artificial dyes have replaced natural sepia.

Cuttlefish eat small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish and other cutttleishcutttlefish. Their predators are sharks, fish and other cuttlefish. They live about 1 to 2 years. Most of them can be found in the english channel.

Like [[octopus]]es, cuttlefish have been successfully raised as [[pet]]s in home [[aquarium]]s, though even their bare necessities are significant. In particular, cuttlefish need a minimum amount of [[sea water]] in proportion to their body size, their tank needs to be cleaned ''every'' time they ink, they cannot tolerate abrupt changes in light levels, and they cannot coexist with other animals, and rarely ever with other cuttlefish. All other animals of comparable or smaller size, including other cuttlefish, are instinctively seen as food.

Domestic cuttlefish are very reminiscent of [[domestic cat]]s, even exhibiting cat-like habits such as resting, pouncing on moving prey, begging owners for food, and even begging for more food than they need or is healthy for them. Like cats, cuttlefish are not truly [[Domesticationdomestication|tame]], but rather tolerate and cooperate with their owners to live a comfortable life. But unlike cats, cuttlefish ''will'' try to eat other cuttlefish.

Cuttlefish eat small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish and other cutttleish. Their predators are sharks, fish and other cuttlefish. They live about 1 to 2 years. Most of them can be found in the english channel.

==Classification==

[[Image:Camouflage.jpg|250px|right|thumbnail|An infant cuttlefish protects itself with camouflage]]