Retrospectacle: A Neuroscience Blog

Cuttlefish for a Cuttlefish

Posted by Shelley Batts on November 29, 2007
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During the Thanksgiving break, a friend of mine took this great photo of a cuttlefish at the New England Aquarium.

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A few days ago, a really cool website called Digital Cuttlefish was brought to my attention by a comment someone left here. This blog epitomizes something I really like and admire–the intersection of art and science. The Digital Cuttlefish likes poetry (more iambic pentameter-type than free verse) and is quite good at it; just check out their poem “An Atheist Gives Thanks” and “A Song for the Season.” I like this cuttlefish, and you should too.

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Comments

  1. #1 Cuttlefish
    November 29, 2007

    From the pit of all three of my cuttlefish hearts
    I thank you for cherishing science and arts;
    And I’m glad that my little compulsion with rhyme
    Is a pleasant distraction and use of your time.
    Many thanks for this picture; more thanks for your words,
    (And thanks to your parrot–we can’t forget birds!)
    Good luck to you always, wherever you wend,
    To you and your family.
    —————————– your cuttlefish friend.

  2. #2 Shelley Batts
    November 29, 2007

    I toast you for your for your words of wit.
    I envy those, a little bit,
    who find a way to bend their skill
    to reflect a clever mind at will.
    I hope that you might grant my wish,
    and act unlike the cuttlefish.
    While he is shy and hides away
    I hope you return another day.

  3. #3 Johan
    November 30, 2007

    I also like cuttlefish, although I can’t rhyme. See the picture I linked in my name.

  4. #4 Shelley Batts
    November 30, 2007

    Johan, beautiful picture!

  5. #5 Cuttlefish
    November 30, 2007

    :-) )))

  6. #6 Doug
    December 1, 2007

    Hi Shelly,

    PBS NOVA ‘Kings of Camouflage” is an excellent video with transcript on the cuttlefish whose poetry is in color change.
    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/camo/

    I still wonder if there may be a possible evolutionary link between the cuttlebone and the notochord?

  7. #7 Shelley Batts
    December 1, 2007

    Doug- thanks for that video link! I didn’t know much about the cuttlefish honestly, but I learned that they have a very large brain-body ratio (ie, smart) and can even solve mazes. Fascinating creatures.

  8. #8 Cuttlefish
    December 6, 2007

    Thank you, Doug, for that video link
    There’s a video there, that I think
    Shows my cousin in Oz
    Who’s in trouble because
    They found stuff there that’s better than zinc.

    http://scienceblogs.com/deepseanews/2007/12/how_much_do_you_like_big_cuttl.php

    and

    http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2007/12/please-australia.html