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Dieren en planten

Molluscs   Cuttlefish   Curled octopus   Common cuttlefish   European squid   European common squid   Flying squid   
  • Dut: inktvissen, koppotigen
  • Lat: Cephalopoda
  • Eng: Cephalopods, inkfish
  • Ger: Kopffüßer, Tintenfische
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Common cuttlefish, Ecomare, Peter van der Wolf

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish are highly developed molluscs. Their eyesight is excellent. They are very fast in their hunt for crustaceans, shellfish, fish and other cuttlefish. There are two major groups within the cuttlefish family: the 8-armed and the 10-armed. You find the 8-armed curled octopus in the North Sea. Otherwise, only 10-armed cuttlefish are found in the North Sea: the common cuttlefish and various species of squid.

On Texel


Flying squid found on the beach of Texel in 2009, Rob Koenen

The European common squid is the only cuttlefish regularly caught alive in the sea around Texel. Cuttlebones from the common cuttlefish and eggs from the common squid are often found on the beach. Every once in awhile, a dead flying squid is found on the beach.

  • On Texel

    The European common squid is the only cuttlefish regularly caught alive in the sea around Texel. Cuttlebones from the common cuttlefish and eggs from the common squid are often found on the beach. Every once in awhile, a dead flying squid is found on the beach.

  • Self-defense
    young common cuttlefish, ecomare, sytske dijksen

    Cuttlefish are food for various species of predator fish, dolphins and people. However, they have three ways to protect themselves from enemies. First of all, they can swim backwards incredibly fast by activating their 'jet motor'. They suck in water via a tube located on the side of their body. If necessary, they squeeze in their body, which spouts water through a tunnel underneath. This fierce stream propels the cuttlefish backwards.

    Secondly, they can emit a cloud of colored fluid (ink). The ink not only serves to blind the attacker, it also affects its sense of smell.

    Thirdly, they take advantage of camouflage: they can change color quickly and take on the color of their surroundings. The common cuttlefish in particular is called the 'chameleon of the sea'. However, marine biologists point out that common cuttlefish can actually change color more quickly than chameleons. In that case, it's the chameleons which should be called the common cuttlefish on land'.

  • Monsters from the deep sea

    Giant squids live in the deep sea and can reach a length up to 14 meters with arms 7 meters long and eyes as large as soccer balls. Their life is a mystery. Sometimes dead giant squid wash ashore. Sperm whales hunt giant squid. These large animals often have scars from fighting them.

    In 2004 scientists were able to photograph a live giant octopus. Japanese researchers followed sperm whales to their hunting grounds and dropped a sturdy fishing line down to a depth of 900 meters. They used a smaller dead cuttlefish and a bag of shrimp as bait. From the pictures, a giant octopus soon attacked the bait by curling its arms around it just like a python attacks its prey. Unfortunately, one of its arms caught on the fishing hook. It took four hours of wrestling before the squid escaped and only because it lost its arm.

    The kraken is a sea monster that often appears in legendary stories of pirates and sailors. It is a large monster, which looks like an octopus. In these stories, it grabs ships with its arms and drags them to the bottom of the sea. This beast does not exist. These legendary pirate stories are probably based upon the giant squid.