Common Cuttlefish

Photo: Katerina Kalogerini · CC BY

Spring (March to May) brings cuttlefish in from deeper water to breed in the sheltered cave mouth, where males perform hypnotic chromatic displays to compete for females. Eggs are laid in clusters on the rocky ceiling just inside the cave entrance and hatch after 6 to 8 weeks. Outside the breeding season, solitary individuals patrol the sandy floor using jet propulsion to ambush small fish and crustaceans.