Gallery: Absurd Creature of the Week: Cross-Dressing Cuttlefish Puts on World's Most Spectacular Light Show

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    Photo: © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
    01

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    If the polychromatic cuttlefish were a breakfast cereal, they’d be Froot Loops. Though I guess they’d get pretty soggy.
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    Photo: © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
    02

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    "You're in the wrong neighborhood, punk," say these juvenile pharaoh cuttlefish, who really let the name go to their heads.
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    03

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    The flamboyant cuttlefish is like a zebra, if zebras could hold their breath for a long time and fed solely on mescaline. *GIF: Nurie Mohamed. Source: [Mohammad Adzri](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnm4I4RBMo)*
  • Image may contain Water Nature Animal Ocean Sea Life Outdoors Reef Sea Aquatic and Coral Reef
    Photo: © Roger Hanlon
    04

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    A male giant Australian cuttlefish with enlarged fourth arms. Bro, do you even lift?
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    Photo: © Roger Hanlon
    05

    Papillae-RHanlon

    A cuttlefish projects camouflaging structures called papillae, which are controlled by concentric circles of muscles. With these raised all over its body, you’d imagine that a cuttlefish would make for a pretty good ping-pong player.
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    Photo: © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
    06

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    A flamboyant cuttlefish regrets not paying with a credit card.
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    Photo: © Roger Hanlon
    07

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    The cuttlefish's W-shaped eyes provide it excellent vision. But while it can put on a dazzling camouflage show, it's actually color-blind. And that, as scientists say, is effing weird.
  • Image may contain Aquatic Water Outdoors Nature Animal Reptile Lizard Sea Life Sea and Ocean
    Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED
    08

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    Either these two pharaoh cuttlefish are hugging or they're mating. It's a really fine line with cuttlefish.
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    Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED
    09

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    Behind the scenes of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's new exhibit, Tentacles, where things are decidedly blue. And tubey.
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    Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED
    10

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    The Monterey Bay Aquarium's new Tentacles exhibit under construction in January. Someone will sweep up for the opening tomorrow, though. Don't you worry.
  • Image may contain Workshop Human Person Wood Flooring Plywood and Machine
    Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED
    11

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    Construction workers building the new Tentacles exhibit observe a ladder, the most elusive of sea creatures.
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