Pharaoh Cuttlefish

Sepia pharaonis

The Pharaoh cuttlefish is a fascinating sea creature known for its ability to change colors and patterns. It has a unique shape and can squirt ink to escape from predators!

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Pharaoh Cuttlefish has an oval-shaped body with a distinct frilly fin running its entire length. It can display incredible patterns, often with mesmerizing stripes and iridescent patches of red, brown, and white, making it stand out from other bottom dwellers.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumMolluscaClassCephalopodaOrderSepiidaFamilySepiidaeGenusAcanthosepion
Pharaoh Cuttlefish
solitary trait badgecamouflaged trait badgecolorful trait badgeambush_predator trait badge
Pharaoh Cuttlefish

Category

Invertebrate

Rarity

Rare

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Pharaoh Cuttlefish lay eggs that look like tiny grapes or berries attached to seaweed!

Their W-shaped pupils give them amazing vision, even backward!

They have a special shell inside their body called a cuttlebone, which helps them float!

Wow, this cuttlefish has three hearts and blue blood because of copper in its blood!

Special abilities

Ability

Instant Disguise

Pharaoh Cuttlefish can instantly change skin color and texture because of tiny pigment sacs, helping them disappear into their surroundings.

Ability

Hypnotic Patterns

Pharaoh Cuttlefish can display mesmerizing patterns because of specialized skin cells, that helps them stun prey or warn rivals.

Ability

Ink Cloud Escape

Pharaoh Cuttlefish can release a dark ink cloud because of a special gland, that helps them create a diversion to escape predators.

Ability

Polarized Vision

Pharaoh Cuttlefish has unique eyes that can see polarized light, that helps them detect camouflaged prey and communicate.

Measurements & details

Length
15-45 cm
Weight
1-5 kg
Lifespan
1-2 years
Top Speed
20 km/h

Diet & Feeding

These clever hunters eat fish, crabs, and shrimp with their quick tentacles and sharp beak.

Age differences: Young cuttlefish eat smaller crustaceans and tiny fish before moving to larger prey as they grow.

Primary Foods

  • fish
  • crabs
  • shrimp
  • small mollusks
  • other cephalopods

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops aduncus

A clever hunter of cuttlefish.

eaten by

Blacktip reef shark

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Sharks patrol reefs for them.

hunts

Flower crab

Portunus pelagicus

Ambushes crabs hiding on seabed.

hunts

Giant tiger prawn

Penaeus monodon

Quickly grabs unsuspecting shrimp.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Always watch cuttlefish from a distance and never touch them in the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Pharaoh Cuttlefish?

15-45 cm

How much does Pharaoh Cuttlefish weigh?

1-5 kg

How long does Pharaoh Cuttlefish live?

1-2 years

How fast can Pharaoh Cuttlefish move?

20 km/h

What does Pharaoh Cuttlefish eat?

These clever hunters eat fish, crabs, and shrimp with their quick tentacles and sharp beak.

Where is Pharaoh Cuttlefish usually found?

Coastal areas

How does Pharaoh Cuttlefish hunt?

Ambush

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

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Recent Snaps

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Where to spot

More Invertebrate