The giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama), native to Australian waters, is famous for its spectacular mating displays, particularly in South Australia’s Spencer Gulf.
Each winter, thousands gather just south of Point Lowly near the small city of Whyalla for the extraordinary breeding event.
Males, often dramatically larger than females, fiercely compete for mates. They engage in colour-changing displays, wrestling matches and strategic deception – smaller males sometimes mimic females to sneak past rivals. Sometimes they squirt ink to escape or confuse their opponents.
The strongest males guard chosen females, fending off challengers with pulsating chromatophores (pigment-bearing cells) and outstretched arms. This annual spectacle is the largest known aggregation of cuttlefish in the world, drawing scientists and divers eager to witness their mesmerising courtship and combat rituals.
Here, footage shows the moment two males collide in the waters around Point Lowly.
Main image: giant cuttlefish in Spencer Gulf, South Australia – filmed in 2019/Getty
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