Flamboyant Cuttlefish

Metasepia pfefferi

Description:

Also known as Pfeffer's Flamboyant Cuttlefish. They feed nocturnally on small fish and crustaceans, and grow to a length of about 8cm. When threatened or alarmed, they change their colors like lightning flashes. This is the only cuttlefish known to be venomous.

Habitat:

Usually found in shallow waters on sand and mud flats, at depths of 3 to 85m. Found across the western Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:

Spotted two of these flamboyantly colorful cuttlefish at a depth of about 20m, at a dive site called East Point, north of Samal Island, Philippines.

Species ID Suggestions

22 Comments

Blogie 11 years ago

Thanks very much, BrandonBlount!

BrandonBlount 11 years ago

Awesome! I love these, they are really amazing in the way they are able to shift their colors and patterns. Superb spotting!

Blogie 11 years ago

Thanks guys! :)

Yeah, Argybee... I was wondering why you didn't comment here back then. :D

Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

Absolutely fabulous Blogie.
Looks like you had it really angry by pic #4 :)
How did I miss this one!
We might need a notifier of uploads for those we follow.

LisaPowers 11 years ago

Nice capture! Cuttlefish are amazing creatures! Thanks for sharing.

MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

Fantastic!!

Blogie 12 years ago

Thank you, chebeague8!

chebeague8 12 years ago

Cool photo!

Blogie 12 years ago

@Nopayahnah - Yup! Those rippling colors were very mesmerizing!

Maria dB 12 years ago

Flamboyant indeed. The video is wonderful showing the rippling colors.

Blogie 12 years ago

It is indeed, Ismael. Thanks!

Ismael Chaves 12 years ago

Gorgeous creature

Blogie 12 years ago

Thanks, Christy & Cindy!

@ChristyHolland - It was very annoyed with me, I guess, and that's why it was changing colors. (Not all cuttlefish can change colors like the flamboyant, though.)