Cuttlebone

Mollusca – Cephalopoda

Distribution:       

Cuttlebones are the internal shells of cuttles (or cuttlefish). A cuttlebone largely consists of tiny gas-filled chambers that help the cuttle move up and down through the water column, particularly at night when they ascend to catch surface-dwelling fish. Like their relatives, squid and octopus, cuttles have a relatively short lifespan of 18 months to two years.

Did you know?

Some cuttlebones have teeth marks on them that may indicate what marine creature killed and ate the cuttle – a dolphin, sea lion, shark or large bony fish.