Today, we are going to talk about the differences of the three (similar but not same) members of the Cephalopod family. They are the Octopus, Squid and the Cuttlefish.

Many of us today, enjoying eating these species but don't know much facts about them. Some actually can't differentiate them from another. (Tell you a secret, I too could not really tell a squid and an octopus apart till I read up on them. That's why I'm sharing my knowledge today.)

Octopus

Octopuses are characterized by their eight arms (not tentacles), usually bearing suction cups. These arms are a type of muscular hydrostat. Unlike most other cephalopods, the majority of octopuses have almost entirely soft bodies with no internal skeleton. They have neither a protective outer shell like cuttlefish or squids.

Three defensive mechanisms are typical of octopuses: ink sacs, camouflage, and detaching of limbs (When under attack, some octopuses can detach their own limbs, in a similar manner to the way skinks and other lizards detach their tails.).

A few species, such as the Mimic Octopus, have a fourth defense mechanism. They can combine their highly flexible bodies with their color changing ability to accurately mimic other, more dangerous animals such as lionfish, sea snakes and eels. They have also been observed changing the texture of their mantle in order to achieve a greater camouflage. The mantle can take on the spiky appearance of seaweed, or the scraggly, bumpy texture of a rock, among other disguises. (Wow, cool!!)

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish have an internal shell (cuttlebone), large eyes, and eight arms and two tentacles furnished with denticulated suckers, with which they secure their prey.

Cuttlefish are sometimes called the chameleon of the sea because of their remarkable ability to rapidly alter their skin colour at will and have ink, like squid and octopuses which acts as it's self defense.

Squid

Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms and two tentacles arranged in pairs. (These tentacles do not grow back if severed). The main body mass of the squid is enclosed in the mantle, which has two swimming fins along each side. The squids usually squirt ink, like cuttlefishes and octopuses which acts as it's self defense.

Cheers!



*Wanders off to grab some fried calamari*