Flamboyant Cuttlefish: Love at first sight
Metasepia pfefferi, or more commonly known as the flamboyant cuttlefish, has a very exciting way to attract a partner. Usually, these cuttlefish blend in, or use what’s called camouflage to avoid being seen and eaten by predators. What you can’t see, you can’t find, and therefore cannot eat! Most often, you will see (or not see!) a cuttlefish displaying greens, blues, and browns to match its oceanic environment.
In this species of cephalopod, the female cuttlefish is very specific in choosing a potential mating partner and is often over 40% larger than the male! However, it is the males who put up the impressive light shows to attract and impress the females.
In the top half of the picture, we see a camouflaged male cuttlefish with no mate in its territory (the area that he lives in and defends). In the bottom half, we see a prospective female that has entered the defending male’s territory, looking for a partner. Upon noticing the female, the male will raise his tentacles and shift between pinks, purples, and yellows to try and secure her attention. If she is not impressed by his display, she will simply leave. This rejection happens about 50% of the time. If she is impressed enough by his multicolored efforts, she will mate with him and lay a couple dozen eggs, often on the insides of coconut shells.
After about a month, a miniature, fully-formed cuttlefish will hatch with the innate, or inborn ability, to change colors.
References
Hanlon RT, McManus G. Flamboyant cuttlefish behavior: Camouflage tactics and complex
colorful reproductive behavior assessed during field studies at Lembeh Strait,
Indonesia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 2020 Aug
1;529:151397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2020.151397
