©Connor Gibbons
September 14, 2020
Master of Transformation
- as seen by -
Connor Gibbons
A flamboyant cuttlefish, (Metasepia pfefferi), flares up in excitement as it is served its lunch at WCS’s New York Aquarium. We feed our cuttlefish three times a day with live grass shrimp enriched with nutritious food.
The vibrant flamboyant cuttlefish is a master of transformation. This invertebrate takes walks along the sandy bottom of its exhibit and tries to stay out of sight. When not active, it likes to remain stationary and blend into its environment looking much like a nearby rock. But once we introduce dozens and dozens of live shrimp into its exhibit, the colorful mollusk looks like a swimming lava lamp. It puts on hypnotic displays as it propels itself through the water gobbling up the tiny crustaceans. The flamboyant cuttlefish pictured above is looking for its next meal.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The New York Aquarium is now open for all guests. Stop by the aquarium’s new Spineless exhibit to see the flamboyant cuttlefish and other interesting invertebrates.
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