WHYALLA, Australia (16 June 2007) -- Thousands of blue-blooded, eight-armed colossi filled with lust are closing in on Whyalla in one of nature's strangest phenomena. The good news for the curious is you can see the courtship rituals of tens of thousands of giant cuttlefish by snorkelling or scuba diving in clear waters just metres offshore, minutes from downtown Whyalla. The rocky ledges in the area make it the perfect mating ground for the strange creatures who emerge from the deep each winter eager to find a willing mate. The annual May-August gathering is believed to be the largest congregation of giant cuttlefish in the world. But the term ``giant cuttlefish'' is slightly misleading. Certainly, they are giants in comparison to some cuttlefish which grow to just 1cm. But these monsters are not about to envelope Whyalla's OneSteel works in their arms the biggest are about as big as a labrador and just as docile. While virtually unknown to the wider world until only a few years ago, the mass gathering now attracts divers from around the country and beyond to witness the show. And what an odd show it is. With three hearts the creatures are born romantics, with a courtship ritual that has to be seen to be believed. Cuttlefish have the ability to change colours and patterns on their skin in an instant, and the males use complex light shows to impress potential female partners. With four boys for every girl the males range from macho posers to drag queens as they use different tactics to find a mate. Large males will go macho by putting on a disco light show on their backs to impress the girls. While they prance, some smaller males pretend to be females then dart in to mate while the large boys are busy dancing. Other small males simply hide under ledges and wait for unsuspecting females to wander past, then grab them. Demand for cuttlefish in Asia saw as many as 450,000 harvested off Whyalla in 1997-98. However, their long-term value as a tourism drawcard was recognised and there now is a ban on fishing during the breeding season. The major breeding site in False Bay between the OneSteel wharf and the Santos jetty is easy to reach and a delight to swim in, although at this time of year the water is quite cold. The cuttlefish can be seen just a matter of metres offshore, in depths of several metres. They take little notice of humans as they play the age-old mating game. Once a pair of willing participants have met up, mating takes about two minutes as the cuttlefish link their eight arms for head-to-head insemination. The giant cuttlefish, Sepia apama, is a member of the cephalopod family, along with squid and octopus. As well as putting on a fascinating show for divers, the creatures make a tasty meal for the area's resident dolphin population. | | "I know you're very busy but would slipping my sperm package into your mouth be entirely out of the question?" DID YOU KNOW? The closest most people come to cuttlefish is using their backbones in bird cages. Scientists have found the gender imbalance among the giant cuttlefish unique to Whyalla, and it creates enormous competition among males. They have four known techniques as they try to slip their sperm packages into an obliging female's mouth - and the female may mate up to five times an hour: LIGHT SHOWS: Large males put on disco-like light shows to stand out from competing males. Thousands of structures called chromatophores on their bodies allow them to change colours in an instant, creating an effect of twinkling fairy lights in rippling patterns, changing from reds to yellows to blues and more. Two big males, facing each other, shimmer with fast-changing patterns sparkling in vivid colours OPEN STEALTH: As large males put on light shows, smaller males on the fringe dart in to grab the female while the larger competitors are duelling HIDDEN STEALTH: Other males hide under ledges until an unsuspecting female wanders along looking for food or somewhere to lay an egg. As she drifts into range the sneaky casanova strikes DRAG QUEENS: Small males disguise themselves as females to try to blend in. With the big males out on their competing light shows, the drag queen will reveal its true identity by mating with the girl next door. SOURCE - Sunday MailSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba ForumCDNN Related NewsSPAIN - Weird sex: Giant squid do it deeper |
