Cuttlefish Bone

Description:

Cuttlebone, also known as cuttlefish bone, is a hard, brittle internal structure (an internal shell) found in all members of the family Sepiidae, commonly known as cuttlefish, a family within the cephalopods. It is quite light and easily broken. If crushed, it goes into a powder. One side is a delicate pink colour.

Habitat:

This cuttlefish bone was found washed up on the beach after high tide in Westernport Bay, Victoria, Australia.

Notes:

Cuttlebone is composed primarily of aragonite. It is a chambered, gas-filled shell used for buoyancy control; its siphuncle is highly modified and is on the ventral side of the shell. The microscopic structure of cuttlebone consists of narrow layers connected by numerous upright pillars. Depending on the species, cuttlebones implode at a depth of 200 to 600 metres (660 to 1,970 ft). Because of this limitation, most species of cuttlefish live on the seafloor in shallow water, usually on the continental shelf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuttlefish Cuttlefish are marine animals of the order Sepiida. They belong to the class Cephalopoda, which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Cuttlefish have a unique internal shell, the cuttlebone. Despite their name, cuttlefish are not fish but mollusks. In the past, cuttlebones were ground up to make polishing powder. The powder was added to toothpaste, and was also used as an antacid or as an absorbent. Today, cuttlebones are commonly used as calcium-rich dietary supplements for caged birds, chinchillas, hermit crabs, reptiles, and snails.