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Happy Friday! Who wants to learn about cephalopod colour change and camouflage?
Cephalopods use a number of cells to manipulate the colour of their skin. Chromatophores are cells that allow them to mix red, yellow or brown pigments. This cuttlefish is flashing like this to hypnotise prey.
But wait - they have a LOT more colours than that! How? Thanks to amazing cells called iridophores. These cells reflect light of specific wavelengths coming in from outside - effectively mimicking the colour of the surroundings. This is useful as cephalopods are colourblind!
But wait! They have *more*! Leucophores reflect all light back, but scatter it, helping cephalopods match the limited light that filters into the murky depths and breaks up their outline to deter predators - and help in hunting dinner.
Finally, there& #39;s the fascinating papillae - sections of the cephalopod& #39;s skin that can be manipulated to mimic textures. It& #39;s thought this is done by sight - not touch! Like if you could look at a brick wall and will your goosebumps to take on that same texture.
Anyway cephalopods are great and this is only a tiny fraction of why. Evolution is the bomb.
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