THE CUTTLE COUNCIL

The Cuttle Council, acrylic on canvas, 2021. 24” X 18”

Cuttlefish are members of the cephalopod family, which also includes the squid and octopus. They are well-known for their ability to change the color of their skin in the blink of an eye using special, color-changing cells called chromatophores. These color changes are a method of communication for these cephalopods and can also be used by them for camouflage in order to hunt prey or escape from predators. 

There are nine types of cuttlefish in this painting, and some of them are closely related although they are not "true" cuttlefish.

Australian giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama)

The Australian giant cuttlefish is the largest member of the cuttlefish family, and it is found in southern Australian waters.

Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)

The common cuttlefish is one of the best-known species of cuttlefish. This species lives in the Mediterranean, Baltic and North Seas of Europe.

The shade of brown color called sepia is named after the Greek word for cuttlefish (sepia) which is also the scientific genus for "true" cuttlefish. The color is said to derive from cuttlefish ink which was used by several cultures in the past as a dye.

Broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus)

The broadclub cuttlefish is the second largest cuttlefish species after the Australian giant cuttlefish. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific region from the western Indian Ocean to Japan, Fiji and Australia in the Pacific Ocean.

Pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis)

The pharaoh cuttlefish is a large cuttlefish native to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Indo-Pacific region. It is also one of the most economically-important species of cuttlefish, as it is popular in several countries such as Egypt, India, the Philippines, Japan and China as a source of food. The species also became a migrant to the Mediterranean Sea due to the opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt.

Dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis)

The dwarf cuttlefish is a very tiny cuttlefish which is one of the smallest species. It lives in shallow seas and coral reefs around the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and the Marshall Islands. It "walks" on the ocean floor or corals, rather than swims, using its arms and the flaps of its mantle.

Flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi)

The flamboyant cuttlefish is a brightly-coloured cuttlefish which can be found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, usually around Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia. It uses its lower arms to “walk” on the sea floor while stalking prey. The flesh of this cuttlefish contains several unique acids which render it unsuitable for consumption, even to predators.

Striped pajama squid (Sepioloidea lineolata)

The striped pajama squid does not belong to the "true" cuttlefish family, but it is a member of a closely-related family called the Sepiadariidae. Although its base color is yellowish with dark brown stripes, this cuttlefish is able to camouflage itself by changing its appearance and the color of its skin. It can be found in the Indo-Pacific region near Australia.

Stubby squid (Rossia pacifica)

The stubby squid is a member of the bobtail squid family (the Sepiolidae), which is closely related to the "true" cuttlefish. It lives in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, near Japan, Korea, Russia and the west coast of North America. The individual in the painting is based on a purple-colored specimen found on the ocean floor by a remotely-operated sub which captivated a team of scientists.

Berry's bobtail squid (Euprymna berryi)

This bobtail squid has a rounder and more compact mantle than other cuttlefish and is very small, only measuring up to five centimeters in length. It is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific region and lives in the benthic region, the region close to the ocean floor. This shy cuttlefish buries itself in the sand to where its eye is visible to hide from enemies and when it hunts small crustaceans for food.

The Process