Scuba Find! Flamboyant Cuttlefish Grazing

WHAT A FIND! Flamboyant cuttlefish are as mesmerizing as they are rare to find on a dive. I loved seeing this crazy looking critter in what seems to be lunch time.
Fun Facts about Flamboyant Cuttlefish:
The flamboyant cuttlefish has two tentacles and eight arms. When pursuing their prey, the cuttlefish uses their tentacles to quickly reach out and strike their target and bring it to their beak to feed . Flamboyant cuttlefish are carnivorous, and their diet includes bony fish and crustaceans. Their primary predators include seals, dolphins, and larger fish.1
Cuttlefish have a specialized, hollow feature called a cuttlebone that helps the animal maintain buoyancy by adjusting the levels of gas and liquid in its chambers.1 Because the flamboyant cuttlefish’s cuttlebone is relatively small, this species can only float and swim for short amounts of time. Instead of swimming, flamboyant cuttlefish “walk” along the ocean floor using their arms. They also have a highly developed sensory system that helps them respond and adjust to their surroundings.
The base color of the flamboyant cuttlefish is dark brown with some yellow and purple spots around the arms. However, their skin contains chromatophores, or specialized pigment cells that can change the color of the skin.2 These chromatophores create a vibrant display of flashing colors on the flamboyant cuttlefish’s body. This color change occurs for several reasons; the cuttlefish may be trying to attract prey, threaten predators, or put on a mating display
#flamboyantcuttlefish #cuttlefish #scuba #oceanlover #underwaterphotography

[@jaypower1138]

My favorite!