Little cuttlefish

Little cuttlefish

Little cuttlefish © marknthomasimages.co.uk

Little cuttlefish

Scientific name: Sepiola atlantica
This little cuttlefish really lives up to its name - it only reaches about 6cm long!

Species information

Statistics

Length: Up to 6cm

Conservation status

Common

When to see

January to December

About

The little cuttlefish is a small, cup-shaped cephalopod with large eye bulges. They are in fact a type of bobtail squid, rather than a true cuttlefish, and don't have a cuttlebone. They spend much of their time buried in sandy seabeds with only their eyes exposed, on the look out for predators and their favourite prey - little crustaceans. Like common cuttlefish, they are able to change colour using the chromatophores in their skin. They most often appear a paleish white with brown and black splodges - enabling them to blend in with their sandy home.

How to identify

A very small cuttlefish with a rounded cup-like body and protrusive eyes. Normally pale with brown and white blotchy markings, but changes colour when disturbed. Eye bulges sometimes tinged green.

Distribution

Found off all UK coasts.

Did you know?

If disturbed, little cuttlefish release a jet of ink and will change their colouration to pale to confuse the predator and make their escape.

Watch

A coastal landscape, with the sea gently lapping at smooth rocks as the sun sets behind scattered clouds

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

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Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

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