Giant Cuttlefish

About Giant Cuttlefish

The world's largest cuttlefish species, famous for spectacular colour-changing displays during breeding aggregations in South Australia.

Quick Facts

• Habitat: Temperate coastal waters of southern Australia, rocky reefs, seagrass beds, and sand flats from 0-100m depth
• Diet: Crabs, shrimp, small fish, and other crustaceans captured with rapid tentacle strikes
• Best season: May to August for the mass breeding aggregation in Whyalla

Fun Facts

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

Diving Tips

Giant cuttlefish are remarkably tolerant of divers during the breeding season. Approach slowly and low to the substrate.