Some sea creatures are so unusual and otherworldly that they seem like aliens and you would hardly believe they existed if you didn’t witness them with your own eyes.  Here are a few insane facts about one such creature, The Giant Cuttlefish: 

Enigmatic Blue-Green Blood and 3 Hearts!

Unlike our human bodies which have a protein containing iron, producing red blood, Giant Cuttlefish have a protein containing copper, resulting in blue-green blood!  Their three separate hearts have different tasks with with two dedicated to pumping blood to their gills and the third responsible for circulating blood throughout the rest of their body.

Mesmerizing W Shaped Pupils!

Giant Cuttlefish have highly unusual W-shaped pupils that allow them to see both in front and behind them.  

Multitude of Arms:  8 Arms and 2 Tentacles!

It almost sounds preposterous but the Giant Cuttlefish have 8 arms all equipped with suckers that can taste as well as feel.   Then they have 2 additional elongated tentacles that they use like harpoons to grasp prey.   I have seem them shoot these out in the blink of an eye to catch fish swimming nearby. 

Color Changing!

Using specialized cells called chromatophore organs, they can transform their skin from yellow/orange to red to brown/black displaying a stunning array of hues in a matter of seconds.  Additionally, iridophores contribute iridescent shades across the visible spectrum, while leucophores provide a striking white coloration.  They use this chameleon-like ability to camouflage themselves  or to create visual displays with the intention of scaring off predators or attracting mates.

Shape-Shifters!

As if changing color weren’t enough, these creatures can also change shape.  Through the intricate manipulation of their skin, Giant Cuttlefish can mimic their surroundings with remarkable precision.  By raising papillae on their skin, they alter its shape and texture, imitating rocks, sand, or seaweed. This disguise serves as both a defensive mechanism and a means to sneak up on unsuspecting prey.

Venomous Beak!

Giant Cuttlefish can also produce venom and excrete it through their beaks, aiding in the subduing of prey.

Clouds of Ink!

When threatened, Giant Cuttlefish can unleash a cloud of ink, creating a smokescreen to confuse predators and aid in their escape.

Highly Unique Bone Structure!

Giant Cuttlefish have a bone called the cuttlebone made of aragonite which is a crystal form of Calcium Carbonate.  Normally, this crystalline material would be very brittle but their bones have a unique microstructure that makes them surprisingly strong.  The bones have many small voids or pockets and, in fact the bone has a 90% porosity by volume which is astounding.  This basically means that, when holding the bone, most of that bone, by volume is just air pockets.  Giant Cuttlefish can control the amount of air in these bones within their bodies and thereby control their buoyancy or depth in the water.   Isn’t that incredible?

Summary

The Giant Cuttlefish is one of my favorite sea creatures and I am always excited to see them calmly floating through the ocean with their mantle undulating beneath them, appearing almost as if they were on a magic carpet.  Sadly, these magnificent, intelligent creatures only live 1-2 years so their lives are rather short.  

This one I filmed the other day, given it’s bright red coloration and the fact that it is early winter, is probably a male trying to attract a female for breeding.

Check out the video below (I added a little joke for Eloise)!

I posted a few more photos below as well.  Usually, they change colors and shape more than this one did so I guess he wasn’t that scared of me.  He did try to duck under rocks and you can see how he modified his skin at some points to appear smooth or bumpy but he mostly maintained the bright red color.  If I see more, I’ll update the photos to better show the various characteristics.