Strange hunting skills: Cuttlefish hypnotize sea crabs to eat meat

Video captures the scene of the white-veined cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) using a unique sea crab hunting strategy in Indonesian waters, making the cinematographer extremely excited.

Specifically, this squid changes color and texture on its skin to hypnotize its prey, then approaches and releases 2 long tentacles with serrated suckers to capture prey. That's why many people nickname them 'ocean witches'.

Like octopuses, cuttlefish are good mimics because their skin contains millions of pigment cells that change color, texture, and posture to instantly become invisible. Controlling the autonomic nervous system, this cuttlefish can transform into a variety of patterns and colors continuously creating a light show to attract attention and dazzle its prey, and fall into a hypnotic state that then becomes their 'meal'.

This ability not only helps cuttlefish hunt effectively, but also helps them 'transform' into their surroundings to avoid predators.

The cuttlefish is considered one of the most intelligent invertebrates. They also have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any invertebrate.

Their superior intelligence is demonstrated through impressive hunting techniques, which are evaluated as not inferior to the ocean god, killer whales.

Samuel Daniel

Update 24 July 2023