Cuttle Fish, Aquatic Animal

Cuttle Fish, Aquatic Animal

Cuttle Fishes are basically marine animals. Although their name suggests them to be some kind of fish but in reality they are mollusks. Cuttle Fishes are known as the most intelligent species among the invertebrates.

Cuttlefishes are two-gilled cephalopods living between stones and in rock fissures in the sea usually at a depth of a few fathoms. They often come into shallow waters also. They belong to the genus Sepia. Cuttlefish, scientifically classified under the order Sepiida within the class Cephalopoda, are notable marine molluscs. Their taxonomic group encompasses other cephalopods such as squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. A distinguishing feature of cuttlefish is their possession of an internal shell known as the cuttlebone, a structure utilized for the regulation of buoyancy within their marine habitat.

Physical Characteristics of Cuttle Fish
The animal has a distinct head, bearing eight stumpy sucker-clad arms, two long arms with suckers at their ends, and a pair of prominent and highly developed eyes, resembling in size and appearance those of a fish. The head is connected with the body by a neck. The trunk or body is shaped like a small elongated shield, the base of the shield is towards the head. The body of the animal is supported internally by a long calcareous piece which is laminated, porous and brittle and is popularly known as cuttlebone. Each side of the body of a cuttle fish bears a fin which is used as a swimming organ. It is by ejecting water through the funnel the animal that is the cuttle fish darts rapidly through the water.

All cuttlefishes have an ink-sac placed near their anal opening. They protect themselves by emitting a dark fluid from the sac and hide from their enemies in this smoke-screen. The name Sepia given to these molluscs refers to the brown pigment called sepia made from the dried and pulverized contents of the ink-sac of cuttlefishes and their allies.

Habitat of Cuttle Fish
The living cuttlefish exhibits frequent changes. These changes are due to the contraction and relaxation of certain pigment cells contained under the animal. In some cases the cell displays rainbow like colours. In cuttlefishes the sexes are separate. Mating takes place during the breeding season and fertilization is internal. The female cuttle fishes have certain special glands. The eggs of cuttlefishes are curious objects containing yolk. A capsule which is large and black holds many cuttlefish eggs. As the egg increases in size and when the embryo leaves the egg the yolk is gradually absorbed and it looks like a miniature adult. The cuttlefish eggs have no free-swimming stage.

Communication in Cuttle Fish
Cephalopods in Cuttlefishes exhibit a remarkable ability to convey visual signals through a diverse array of communication elements. These elements encompass chromatic variations in skin coloration, alterations in skin texture such as roughness or smoothness, adjustments in posture, and changes in locomotion. Such modifications in body appearance are referred to as polyphenism within the scientific community.

The common cuttlefish, a prominent member of the cephalopod family, demonstrates a repertoire of communication elements comprising 34 chromatic, six textural, eight postural, and six locomotor variations. In contrast, the flamboyant cuttlefish showcases a broader spectrum of communication, utilizing between 42 and 75 chromatic variations, 14 postural adjustments, and seven textural and locomotor elements.

Uses of Cuttle Fish
The soft calcareous cuttlebones have economic value. They are gathered in the months of February and March, i.e. during the pre-southwest monsoon months when large numbers of them are cast ashore. These soft bones are used for cleaning glass and for polishing silver.

Furthermore, the cuttlebone, a distinctive feature of cuttlefish anatomy, has been utilized since ancient times in metal casting processes. By pressing a model into the cuttlebone and then removing it, an impression is left behind. Molten gold, silver, or pewter can then be poured into the cast, allowing for the creation of intricate metalwork.

In various regions of East Asia, dried and shredded cuttlefish holds popularity as a snack food among consumers. Within the culinary traditions of a few royal Dynasties, the roe of the cuttlefish is recognized as a prized delicacy, albeit one requiring intricate preparation techniques.

Historically, cuttlefish ink played a significant role as a dye, known as sepia. The extraction process involved removing the ink sac from the cuttlefish or squid, followed by drying and dissolution in a diluted alkali solution. Subsequent filtration isolated the sepia pigment, which was then precipitated using dilute hydrochloric acid. This resulting pigment, sepia, demonstrated notable chemical inertness, contributing to its enduring usage. However, contemporary applications have largely transitioned to artificial dyes, relegating natural sepia to a lesser role.

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