Cuttlefish

Mike B in OKlahoma · Post by **Mike B in OKlahoma** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:56 pm

I like the strange and alien look to this guy!

European cuttlefish
captive subject
180mm
1/250th second @ f/16
ISO 160
flash as main light

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:26 pm

Ah yes, fascinating beasts!

Many years ago I saw a snippet on TV, of a small aquarium cuttlefish catching a fish.

Said the TV host, talking with a curator: "Wow! Makes you really glad that cuttlefish aren't like 6 feet long!"

He was right. The action was very quick, notably violent, and really Really alien.

But when I looked it up in my encyclopedia (this was way before the Web), the article said that they do get to be like 6 feet long!

Searching this evening, I see that that's still the case: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/f ... 3074.shtml says 5 feet.

These critters are supposed to be fairly intelligent too. (http://www.heptune.com/cutfish.html)

How big was this one? Any interesting behavior?

--Rik

Carl_Constantine · Post by **Carl_Constantine** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:02 am

It's Davey Jones!!! No seriously, after I see this guy, davey jones from pirates 2 looks just like him.

PeglegOS · Post by **PeglegOS** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:14 am

Carl_Constantine wrote:It's Davey Jones!!! No seriously, after I see this guy, davey jones from pirates 2 looks just like him.

OMG, You're right. I was wondering what that thing in the movie promo was. Now I know.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:27 am

WOW Mike, fantastic shot..everything is perfect. They are such smart creatures. I like when you see the videos of them flashing their colors. I would say it is "one for framing"

Carl_Constantine · Post by **Carl_Constantine** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:55 pm

Yes, I forgot to say that I really like the picture. Nice clarity, an interesting subject, and yes, get this one framed. It's a keeper for sure.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:32 pm

Far Out! Looks like something one would find freaking out in their "Timothy Leary, Trip of the Month" brochure.

A really colorful little guy Mike, thanks!

Mike B in OKlahoma · Post by **Mike B in OKlahoma** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:13 pm

rjlittlefield wrote: How big was this one? Any interesting behavior?

These were fairly small guys, two of them, perhaps eight inches long.

They did have some interesting behavior. They mostly stayed still on the bottom of the tank they were in, but did get up and explore around occasionally. There was one spot that must be favored, as one cuttlefish was settled down in it, and the other came up and nudged till it left and the second one took the spot over. They did fluoresce some, though didn't really change their colors. But the markings grew more and less dim for no reasons I could detect.

They didn't seem to mind my flash, but something upset one of them once. Instead of swimming around using the rippling "fin" you see along the sides of this one, he squirted a jet of water and scooted "backwards" across the tank briefly just one time. I actually did manage to get a shot of it, I'll post that soon.

What these beasties remind me of is a beast called a "mind flayer" in the Dungeon's and Dragons role-playing game I wasted too much time at in college! Courtesy of Google, I found an illustration of one:

http://www.jamesryman.com/illustration/ ... 0cover.htm

These critters had strong telepathic powers, and used the tentacles to penetrate the skulls of their victims and devour their brains. Nice guys. I think I prefer the cute little cuttlefish! :-)

Carl_Constantine · Post by **Carl_Constantine** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:07 pm

Mike B in OKlahoma wrote: What these beasties remind me of is a beast called a "mind flayer" in the Dungeon's and Dragons role-playing game I wasted too much time at in college! Courtesy of Google, I found an illustration of one:

http://www.jamesryman.com/illustration/ ... 0cover.htm

These critters had strong telepathic powers, and used the tentacles to penetrate the skulls of their victims and devour their brains. Nice guys. I think I prefer the cute little cuttlefish! :-)

Either them, or Cthulhu

http://www.emf.net/~estephen/cthulhu.gif