Giant Australian Cuttlefish

Phylum - Mollusca; Class - Cephalopoda; Order - Sepiida; Species - Sepia apama
From May to August each year Giant Australian Cuttlefish (Sepia apama) gather in the shallow waters off Point Lowly, near Whyalla in the Northern Spencer Gulf region of South Australia. They aggregate along the coastline here to mate and reproduce, because the rocky terrain provides excellent shelter and cavities for the females to lay their eggs.
This year, 2020, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) estimated that there were almost 250,000 cuttlefish in this region. This is the largest such aggregation in the world. The male to female ratio was thought to be about five to one.
With their arms extended the cuttlefish measure up to one metre in length. They weigh up to 10 kg.
Male cuttlefish are very protective of their female and frequently spread their arms and display dark waves or colour changes to intimidate other males. These changes are caused by chromatophores which are tiny pigment-filled cells in the skin of the cuttlefish. Physical skirmishes between males also often occur when another male attempts to encroach on a female.
Mating is head to head, during which the male cuttlefish deposits his spermatophore, or ball of sperm, in a pocket near the female’s mouth.
The female usually lays her eggs under a rocky ledge and the embryo will take a number of months to develop before hatching.
Both males and females die soon after spawning, with the typical lifespan of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish being about 12 to 18 months.

[@papuiappa1641]

Oh...beautiful💞💞👍💑👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

[@okyunderwater5167]

They certainly are!

[@jakenorthbriz]

A fish that has it's own distinct personality, and incredibly intelligent. Closest thing to alien as it gets, change shape, color, has 6 arms.

[@chopsuey9950]

i see calamary!😋

[@FrankKennedyHarmonica]

Brilliant shots!

[@okyunderwater5167]

Thanks!

[@lionheartchannel5842]

Thanks for sharing this video ❤️

[@okyunderwater5167]

Thanks for watching these amazing creatures!

[@deborahprovo3779]

awesome!

[@olegzaharov6379]

Nce video, thank You for lt.😊