Camouflaging Cuttlefish

PBS Learning Media
Contributed By
PBS Learning Media
Resource Type
Classroom Material
Keywords
cuttlefish octopus chromatophores camouflage animal adaptation blend surrounding environment cell molecule pigment color marine underwater ocean skin colorblind patterns protein morphing texture goosebumps shape eye retina opsin muscle brain NATURE WNET nat16 color vision sight
Subjects
Life Sciences Science
Grade Levels
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
Related Resources

Camouflaging Cuttlefish

Learn how a cuttlefish uses colored pigments in its skin to blend perfectly with its surroundings in this video from NATURE: Natural Born Hustlers. Cuttlefish can not only expand and contract the muscles that contain these pigments on their skin to match surroundings (just like the octopus); they can also morph the texture of their skin to match the plants or objects they are hiding in—despite being colorblind.
Publisher
PBS Learning Media

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