Cuttlefish Skin (Close-Up) (IMAGE)

Marine Biological Laboratory

Cuttlefish Skin (Close-Up)

Caption

This is a close-up of the skin of the European cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) highlights its mottled appearance, the result of dynamic pigment organs (chromatophores) and fully erect papillae (dermal structures that allow cuttlefish to disrupt its body shape in 3-D). In the wild, papillae expression allows cuttlefish to masquerade as inanimate objects, such as algae or rocks.

Credit

Paloma Gonzalez-Bellido

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