On Thursday, June 22, 2000 11:46 PM, Brian Gelfand wrote:

> I am intrigued by the references in your reports to
> Giant Cuttlefish.  When Elana and I dove in Thailand
> last year, we spent a lot of time swimming with and
> studying the Pharaoh Cuttlefish.  Fascinating beasts,
> and very social.  I didn't see any Giants on my dive
> at the World Cup of Sydney shore diving sites - how
> big are they?

The Giant Cuttle is apparently the largest cuttlefish in the south-west
Pacific and east Indian oceans.  While the body itself can be up to one
metre long - or larger - the head and outstretched tentacles add
considerably to its size.  It's also a very 'broad and bulky' critter.
There have been ocassions when - swimming around a rock - I've suddenly
bumped into one of them; an experience that gives rise to the immediate
thought, " 'Allo!  Wot's this baby elephant's head doing down here swimming
along all by itself?"   (I'm serious!) :-)

As with their smaller cousins, watching one feed is quite an experience.
After swimming towards its prey, two large tentacles spring out from either
side of its head to grasp the unwitting meal in an action that's almost the
reverse of a piece of elastic that's stretched to its limit and then quickly
released!  Just as quickly retracting, these two 'feeding' tentacles bring
the meal within reach of the other tentacles.

Apparently intelligent creatures whose emotional moods are reflected in the
magnificent and complex pattern and colour changes of their mantle, it's
worth looking into their eyes!  :-)

Strike