Cephalopods
CLASS CEPHALOPODA
SPECIES OF Cephalopods
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ANATOMY OF Cephalopods
OVERVIEW
Squids, cuttlefishes and octopuses are collectively known as cephalopods. They belong to the class Cephalopoda, which means “head-feet” in Greek.
ARMS AND TENTACLES!
Instead of a broad, muscular foot, cephalopods have numerous arms and/or tentacles surrounding their head. As their arms and tentacles are long, flexible and typically lined with suckers, they help cephalopods get a good grip on their prey, preventing their hapless prey from escaping!
BLUR LIKE SOTONG!
Have you ever been called “blur like sotong”? This common Singlish phrase apparently references the fact that most squids, cuttlefish and octopuses can squirt ink defensively, which “blurs” the water, conceals the “sotong” and allows it to escape from predators!
NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T!
Cephalopods can change their skin colour, pattern and texture in the blink of an eye! They do this by changing the size and shape of their chromatophores, which are special cells filled with colourful pigments. This rapid and spectacular camouflage enables cephalopods to hide from predators, hunt prey and even communicate with others!