Sepia apama
The giant Australian cuttlefish is the world's largest cuttlefish species, reaching up to 1 metre in length and weighing up to 10 kg. Every winter, tens of thousands gather in the shallow waters of South Australia's Spencer Gulf for one of the most spectacular breeding aggregations in the marine world. Males compete with dazzling colour displays, while smaller males use mimicry to sneak past rivals disguised as females.
Taille
Jusqu'à 1 mètre (longueur du manteau 50 cm)
Poids
Jusqu'à 10.5 kg
Durée de vie
1-2 ans
Statut
Quasi menacé
They can change colour, pattern, and skin texture in less than a second
Males use a split-screen display—showing male colours to rivals on one side and female colours to mates on the other
The Whyalla aggregation can involve over 100,000 individuals in a single season
They have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any invertebrate
After breeding, both males and females die—their entire adult life lasts only one season
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