The Unstartled Steppes of Dream
I am Ashley.
This is my personal blog. If you want just marine biology, go here.
I love the world; I really don't like people.
I balance all this animosity towards the human race with being an almost always kind and gentle being to all creatures.
I'm highly introverted and nature is my primary escape from humanity.
Creepy-crawly-slimy things are my favorites. Dinosaurs are fantastic.
Future marine biologist; presently an amateur entomologist, ichthyologist, artist, biologist, and writer.
Literature, video game, and music connoisseur.
I'm so full of passion for the world that it hurts.
I think a lot, I laugh a lot, I love a lot.
Almost none of the photos are mine and only some of the drawings are mine.
Listen in.
Pfeffer’s Flamboyant Cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) is a poisonous cuttlefish found off the coast of Australia and other Indo-Pacific waters. True to its name, this cuttlefish sports a variety of colors. It is one of only three cephalopods known to be toxic to humans.
Photo © Teresa Zubi
Pfeffer’s Flamboyant Cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi)
Length: 8cm
Location: Indo-Pacific waters
(Photo by Neil Liddle)
Pfeffer’s flamboyant cuttlefish, (Metasepia pfefferi) displays stunning changing colors and patterns and actually “walks” along the bottom of the sea (the only one known to do so). M. pfefferi has a maximum mantle length of 6-8 cm with 3 pairs of flap-like fleshy papillae (fleshy nipple-like protuberances) and a V-shaped ventral (underside) fleshy ridge. This cuttlefish also has large violet oblique V-shaped patches on both sides of the dorsal mantle. Papillae are also present over the eyes. The papillae are used for camouflage to break up the outline of the cuttlefish. Pfeffer’s flamboyant cuttlefish undergoes incredible color changes possible due to three types of structures contained within its skin, called chromatophores, leucophores and iridophores, which are small structures filled with colored ink which can be rapidly expanded and contracted to communicate or are used as camouflage within its habitat. These structures allow the cuttlefish to rapidly reflect a myriad of colors and change the textures of their skin.
(Source)
