31 May 2017
By Sandrine Ceurstemont
Cuttlefish have been caught on film walking like crabs by moving their tentacles in novel ways.
Kohei Okamoto at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, and his team first spotted pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) displaying the unusual behaviour while feeding them in the lab.
“We were surprised to see how closely they resemble hermit crabs,” says Okamoto.
The molluscs would raise their front arms while they bent their other legs, as if they had joints, while quickly moving them up and down independently. Certain parts of their skin also darkened.
The team later filmed the cuttlefish making the same arm movements during experiments in tanks containing small fish that could be prey (see video below).
Cuttlefish are known mimics. They can change colour, texture, skin patterns and even posture instantly to blend in with their surroundings. They can also make complex movements with their arms, not only to help with camouflage but also to startle or lure prey or grip their partner while mating.
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