Pfeffer's flaming cuttlefish are a natural wonder and a possible evolutionary "next step" for cuttlefish. These cuttlefish have three notable characteristics. The first, from which it takes its name, is the fact that when frightened these cuttlefish display vibrant colors of white, yellow, pink and purple. (Like all cephalopods, they achieve this remarkable feat of rapid change by using chromatophores that open and close to reveal different pigments.) This is a warning display to alert predators to the fact that the cuttlefish is in fact toxic. This is the only known example of a toxic cuttlefish. They contain a toxin as deadly as that of its cousin, the blue-ringed octopus. This toxin is pervasive throughout the body and muscles actually contain it. This is actually the first example of a toxic-bodied animal in this group of animals. This toxin is a previously unknown class that may eventually have medical applications. (NOVA) The third notable feature is this creature's preferred locomotion. Flashy people tend to spend most of their time "strolling" through the years '90...
tags