A fascinating marine creature, the cuttlefish, recently made a rare appearance on the shores of Cox’s Bazar. While resembling an octopus, the cuttlefish stands out for its ability to rapidly change colour.
Cuttlefish can adapt their skin tone to blend seamlessly with their surroundings in less than a second. As they swim through coral reefs or rocky seabeds, their skin displays waves of changing patterns and colours, creating a mesmerizing light show effect. This remarkable camouflage helps them hunt prey with ease.
Cuttlefish also possess exceptional vision and can detect polarized light, which gives them an edge in identifying their prey. These fascinating creatures are typically found in shallow waters of temperate and tropical seas worldwide, often around coral reefs and rocky areas.
In Bangladesh, cuttlefish sightings are more common near Saint Martin’s Island, though their rare appearance on Cox’s Bazar Beach has drawn significant attention. This highlights the potential for marine biodiversity exploration as part of the country’s growing interest in the blue economy.
Such unique marine life underscores the ecological richness of Bangladesh’s coastal waters, further emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect this invaluable natural heritage.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Polash Shikdar
