Trident cuttlefish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Trident cuttlefish
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Sepiida
Family:	Sepiidae
Genus:	Sepia
Subgenus:	Doratosepion
Species:	S. trygonina
Binomial name
Sepia trygonina (Rochebrune, 1884)
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Synonyms
Doratosepion trygoninum Rochebrune, 1884

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The trident cuttlefish, also known as Sepia trygonina, is a fascinating type of cuttlefish. It belongs to the Sepia family. You can find these amazing creatures living in the Red Sea and the western part of the Indian Ocean. They are an important food source for bigger ocean animals like dolphins, seals, and even some birds.

What Does the Trident Cuttlefish Look Like?

The trident cuttlefish has ten special parts around its mouth. These include two long tentacles and eight shorter arms. Both the tentacles and arms are covered with small, round suckers.

Arms and Tentacles

It's easy to tell the difference between arms and tentacles. Tentacles are long and end in a point, while arms are shorter and have a rounded end. On its tentacle clubs (the rounded ends of its tentacles), this cuttlefish has eight small suckers in rows. It also has five larger suckers. Some of its arms have a hollow part instead of suckers.

How It Moves and Sees

The cuttlefish has special fins on its head that help it steer in the water. It can also move by pushing water out of a tube called a siphon. Its eyes are on the sides of its head, letting it see almost all around itself (177 degrees). This wide view helps it hunt and hide. Its eyes are covered by a clear skin, like a natural eyelid. The trident cuttlefish has only one set of gills for breathing underwater.

Recognizing This Cuttlefish

You can often spot a trident cuttlefish by its small body and thin tentacles. Its body also has a unique, leaf-like shape.

Differences Between Males and Females

Male and female trident cuttlefish have a few differences. For example, male cuttlefish have one set of arms that are much shorter than their other arms. Their tentacles have suckers arranged in rows of four. Female cuttlefish are usually larger than males. On two pairs of their arms, suckers are also in rows of four. On another pair of arms, suckers are in rows of four only near the end. The area around their mouth, called the buccal membrane, has special ridges.

Where Do Trident Cuttlefish Live?

The trident cuttlefish lives in many parts of the Indian Ocean. This includes areas like the Saya-de-Malha Bank and near Zanzibar. They are also found in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and off the coast of southern India.

Trident Cuttlefish Habitat

These cuttlefish live at different depths in the ocean. You can find them anywhere from about 20 meters (about 65 feet) deep to 410 meters (about 1,345 feet) deep. Like many other ocean creatures, they do something called vertical migration. This means they move up and down in the water each day. During the day, they stay deep, sometimes over 400 meters. But at night, they swim up to shallower waters, sometimes as shallow as 20 meters.

Amazing Camouflage Abilities

The trident cuttlefish is a master of disguise! It can change the color of its skin incredibly fast, in less than a second. This helps it blend in with its surroundings.

How Camouflage Works

They do this using special organs in their skin called chromatophores. These organs contain pigments that can expand or shrink, changing the cuttlefish's skin color and pattern. Their eyes, placed on the sides of their head, help them see what's around them on both sides. This allows them to copy different patterns they see onto their body.

Using Their Eyes for Hiding

It seems the trident cuttlefish prefers to use its right eye to help adjust its camouflage patterns. It then uses its left eye to look for any dangers, like predators. They will use their camouflage skills whether there are predators nearby or not. It's just how they stay safe and hidden!