Cuttlefish Hatch at the Zoo
July 2009
Hundreds of common cuttlefish have hatched in recent weeks at the Zoo's Invertebrate Exhibit and more still are hatching. These jet-propelled animals can change their color to match their surroundings.
This is the first time in the Zoo's history that adult cuttlefish have mated and laid eggs, and babies have hatched and developed. Many are on exhibit in the tank with the chambered nautiluses.
Just after hatching, the babies are only a few millimeters long but they grow quickly. They look just like adult common cuttlefish, and are able to dramatically change their coloring (including creating patterns) to blend in with their surroundings, threaten prey or other cuttlefish, and, for males, attract females. In several months, they may grow to be nearly a foot long.
Most of the babies have been sent to other institutions by the end of August, but the Zoo will continue to exhibit several cuttlefish.
