Hummingbird Bobtail Squid

Euprymna berryi

Male cuttlefish who are unable to win in a direct confrontation with a guard male, employ several other tactics to acquire a mate. The most successful of these methods is camouflage; smaller hummingbird bobtail squid use their camouflage abilities to disguise themselves as a female cuttlefish. Changing their body colour and even pretending to be holding an egg sack, disguised males can swim past the larger male and mate with the female. 

 

Story contribution:

Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr
Tissue Culture & Art Project
SymbioticA, The Centre for Excellence in Biological Arts
School of Human Sciences + School of Design
The University of Western Australia

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