Watch as a Cuttlefish Blends Seamlessly Into Its Underwater Living Room

In the depths of the ocean, cuttlefish are unparalleled in their ability to disguise themselves. These fascinating creatures are part of the Cephalopoda class, which they share with squids, octopuses, and nautiluses. Like certain octopuses, cuttlefish can alter their shape, color, and texture, allowing them to seamlessly blend with seaweed, sand, coral, and virtually any other underwater environment they encounter.

But what happens when a cuttlefish is placed in a new, unfamiliar environment? Could it adapt and blend in with the more structured and patterned surroundings of a human living room, for example?

In an episode of Miracles of Nature, the BBC’s Richard Hammond sought to answer this very question. He created a unique underwater living room set, featuring a black-and-white checkerboard floor, striped walls, and a calico-patterned couch. Hammond then released a cuttlefish into the room and closely observed its reactions. The cuttlefish swam around, exploring the room before settling on the checkerboard floor. Its skin changed to a black-and-white pattern, though it didn’t quite match the geometric precision of the floor’s design. However, when it rested on the couch, the cuttlefish successfully camouflaged itself by adjusting its color to a mottled reddish-brown and altering its skin texture from smooth to bumpy. This experiment proved that while cuttlefish excel at camouflage, they might not be unbeatable in a game of hide-and-seek against a human.

How do cuttlefish pull off this incredible feat? They have specialized pigmented cells called chromatophores spread across their skin. These highly intelligent mollusks can manipulate the shape and texture of these chromatophores, allowing them to reflect or absorb light and change colors to communicate specific messages. Scientists have studied common cuttlefish patterns [PDF] and interpreted them as ways of hiding from predators, hunting, attracting mates, or defending their territory.

Researchers are still uncovering the mysteries of cuttlefish intelligence. In 2020, scientists outfitted the mollusks with custom 3D glasses to test their depth perception.