A very small cuttlefish with a rounded cup-like body and protrusive eyes. Normally pale with brown and white blotchy markings, but changes colour when disturbed. Eye bulges sometimes tinged green.

Behaviour

The little cuttlefish is a small, cup-shaped cephalopod with large eye bulges. They are in fact a type of bobtail squid, rather than a true cuttlefish, and don’t have a cuttlebone. They spend much of their time buried in sandy seabeds with only their eyes exposed, on the look out for predators and their favourite prey – little crustaceans. Like common cuttlefish, they are able to change colour using the chromatophores in their skin. They most often appear a paleish white with brown and black splodges – enabling them to blend in with their sandy home.

Size

Status

Common

Distribution

Found off all UK coasts.

When to see

January to December

Facts

If disturbed, little cuttlefish release a jet of ink and will change their colouration to pale to confuse the predator and make their escape.