THE FLAMBOYANT CUTTLEFISH
Metasepia pfefferi, also known as Pfeffer's flamboyant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish native to the tropical Indo-Pacific waters north of New Guina. This particular species of cuttlefish is the only one known to walk upon the sea floor. Due to the small size of its cuttlebone, it can float only for a short time. M. pfefferi grows to 8 cm (3.1 in) in mantle length, and the dorsal surface of the mantle bears three pairs of large, flat, flap-like papillae. Papillae are also present over the eyes. The flesh of this cuttlefish is poisonous, containing a unique toxin. Its skeleton is consistant with other cuttlefish: It has a very broad, oval mantle that is flattened dorsoventrally. The dorsal mantle has three pairs of large, flat, flap-like papillae, which cover its eyes. The dorsal anterior edge of the mantle lacks the tongue-like projection that is common among all other species of cuttlefish. The head is slightly narrower than the mantle. Its mouth is surrounded by ten appendages, with two of the appendages being tentacles and eight of them are arms. The arms are broad and blade-like. On males, one of the arms is modified into a hectocotylus for holding and transferring spermatophores. Its cuttlebone, the defining feature of a cuttlefish, is approximately two thirds to three quarters the length of the mantle.