our friend, the cuttlefish
If you say it real fast, cuttlefish kinda sounds like 'cuddlefish,' which I think is a good description of this marvelous critter. I saw a special on Nova once about squids and octupi and such, and this deep-sea darling was also featured.
Cuttlefish are the most beguiling of cephalopods and are known as "the chamelions of the sea." They are closely related to octopi, but unlike octopi, cuttlefish can be kept as pets (apparently, a domesticated octipus will try to plan its own escape). According to Wikipedia:
Domestic cuttlefish are very reminiscent of domestic cats, even exhibiting cat-like habits such as resting, pouncing on moving prey, begging owners for food, and even begging for more food than they need or is healthy for them. Like cats, cuttlefish are not truly tame, but rather tolerate and cooperate with their owners to live a comfortable life. But unlike cats, cuttlefish will try to eat other cuttlefish.
Fascinating. Also, it's interesting to note that Whyalla in South Australia is known as "the Cuttlefish Capital of the World." And you thought your hometown was spiffy. While cuttlefish are caught and eaten by pesky humans, its most sought after commodity is its cuttlebone, which is an excellent source of calcium and bill-sharpener for pet parakeets.
5 comments:
They're a bit too soggy to cuddle. Not that I can really cuddle with my cat. Not unless I want to get bitten or scratched. But I am allowed to let my legs and ass go numb because he's so friggin heavy and won't get off my lap. Unless I want to get bitten. Or scratched.
...you are so strange
-Shawna
So I was wrong about the whole poisonous delicacy thing? I HATE being wrong. Damn.
I guess it really is pufferfish, or blowfish, or clown-tied balloon fish.
there is no right or wrong here at counting backwards, bottle rocket
i used to collect these things called safari cards when i was a kid. they were these large square-shaped cards with rounded edges and a big vivid picture of some denizen of the wild kingdom. on the top of the card, they had its name, its classification and a map of the globe that showed where they could be found. i loved those things. does anyone else know what i'm talking about?
ps. i'm not that strange, shawna. curiosity+job where i'm on the Web all day=cuttlefish
Trust me, Whyalla sure as hell isn't known for anything else except the heat and dust.
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