Cephalopods
Broadclub Cuttlefish
Sepia latimanus · Cephalopod mollusk — family Sepiidae; the largest cuttlefish on tropical Indo-Pacific reefs
The broadclub cuttlefish is the big, watchable cuttlefish of tropical reefs — second in size only to Australia's giant — and the one most likely to meet a diver's gaze with its strange W-shaped pupil and simply hold position, hovering on the ripple of its fin skirt. Its party piece is the passing cloud: bands of dark color strobing forward across face and arms while it stalks a crab, apparently dazzling the prey into stillness before the twin feeding tentacles fire. Individuals often tolerate long, close observation, cycling camouflage and curiosity in equal measure. In breeding aggregations males guard females and flash zebra patterns at rivals, sometimes courting on one body half while warning on the other. Eggs go deep into branching coral like clusters of white grapes. Approach slowly; ink means the show is over.
Где и когда увидеть
«Постоянные» — значит, большинство погружений в этом месте позволяет встретить их; «сезонные» — значит, они стабильно присутствуют в указанные месяцы; всё остальное — приятный бонус, а не повод строить планы.
| Направление | Достоверность | Месяцы | Примечания |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | Resident — seen on most dives | Круглый год | |
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | Resident — seen on most dives | Круглый год | |
| PalauPalau | Resident — seen on most dives | Круглый год | |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | Resident — seen on most dives | Круглый год | |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | Resident — seen on most dives | Круглый год | |
| MoalboalPhilippines | Resident — seen on most dives | Круглый год |
Лучший месяц — коротко
Как их понять
Среда обитания: Coral reefs and adjacent seagrass and rubble, hovering near branching coral where it hunts and breeds.
Ареал: Indo-Pacific from the Andaman Sea through the Coral Triangle to northern Australia, Micronesia, and southern Japan.
Поведение: Famous for the passing-cloud display — bands of dark color strobing forward over the face and arms to mesmerize prey; breeding males guard females and flash zebra patterns at rivals, sometimes displaying differently on each body half.
Рацион питания: Crabs, shrimp, and fishes struck with twin feeding tentacles after a slow stalk.
Размер: как правило, около 0.3 m; задокументировано до 0.5 m (mantle length; heavyweights reach roughly 10 kg).
Как вести себя рядом с ним
Move gently and stay to one side; a relaxed animal will hold position and cycle displays for minutes, while a startled one inks and the audience is over. Leave egg clusters in branching coral untouched.
Охрана природы
Formally Data Deficient; taken in reef fisheries across parts of the range, and breeding-season animals are conspicuously easy targets.
Известные места на карте
Смотреть
Из официальных источников
Best Places to Dive with Whale Sharks
Outrageously Tiny Fish
Sink or Swim? with Monét X Change | Monterey Bay Aquarium
Видео — это встроенные ссылки на каналы их авторов: мы ничего не размещаем у себя и указываем все источники.