The video captures a rare moment of cuttlefish laying eggs and the process of baby cuttlefish emerging from their eggs, which is sure to astonish many viewers.
Cuttlefish can grow to lengths of 10 to 17 cm, with males typically being larger than females. They have eight arms and two longer tentacles equipped with suckers at the tips.
Thanks to pigment cells in their skin, the color of cuttlefish can change depending on their mood or to camouflage themselves when in danger. Their primary diet consists of plankton, small mollusks, and occasionally smaller fish that are less than their size.
The life cycle of the cuttlefish consists of four stages: egg, larva, juvenile, and adult. Cuttlefish have a lifespan of approximately 6 to 8 months.
Close-up of the egg-laying process of female cuttlefish. (Video: NFF).
The eggs of cuttlefish are typically laid on sandy substrates at depths ranging from 10 to 50 meters. Females lay hundreds of eggs, sticking together in clusters and attaching to a fixed location. The eggs are encased in multiple layers of protein membranes.
During the breeding season, multiple female cuttlefish may lay eggs in the same location, creating large clusters of cuttlefish eggs on the ocean floor.
The incubation period for cuttlefish eggs lasts from 3 to 8 weeks or may be shorter if laid in warmer waters. The eggs hatch on their own without any parental care. Newly hatched cuttlefish larvae are about 2 mm in size and immediately swim in the seawater after hatching.
A rare moment of baby cuttlefish emerging from their eggs.
After hatching, cuttlefish larvae must quickly learn to hunt. These young cuttlefish feed on paddle-footed crustaceans and other plankton during their early months.
By the time they are two months old, juvenile cuttlefish are strong enough to swim in schools. These young ones form groups of dozens and swim around searching for food. At this age, they can also hunt using their tentacles, similar to adult cuttlefish.
By the age of 4 to 6 months, cuttlefish reach maturity and are capable of mating to reproduce.
There is ongoing debate among scientists about whether female cuttlefish die shortly after laying eggs, as many mature cuttlefish carcasses are often found near egg clusters. It remains unclear how long female cuttlefish continue to live after their first spawning and how many batches of eggs they will lay throughout their lifespan.
