Is octopus a cuttlefish?

Octopus and cuttlefish are both very popular ingredients in our daily life, and are two of the freshest types of seafood. Octopus and cuttlefish are similar in appearance and both have several tentacles. However, it is difficult for people to distinguish between octopus and cuttlefish when purchasing them, and they are easily confused between the two creatures. Let’s take a look at whether octopus is cuttlefish? Those who are interested can find out more.

Is cuttlefish an octopus?

The most obvious difference between octopus and squid is that the squid has a small fin-like thing on each side of its head to maintain balance. The squid's head is much larger in proportion to its body than an octopus's. In addition, there is a small amount of cartilage in the squid's body, so it is more stylish than the octopus and has a more fixed shape.

The specific differences between octopus, squid, and cuttlefish:

1. Different body structures

Octopuses have eight arms, while squid and cuttlefish have ten arms.

Octopuses have soft bodies, squids have cartilage, and cuttlefish have hard bones.

The octopus's body is short oval, sac-shaped, and finless; the boundary between the head and the body is not obvious. The octopus's head and body are about 7-9.5 cm long, with large compound eyes and 8 retractable arms on the head.

2. Different appearance and shape

When we see an octopus, we can think of octopus balls - its body is sac-shaped, like a ball;

The squid has a long, narrow body that looks like a tube, and a circular cross section.

The body of the cuttlefish is relatively flat and very wide.

3. Different living habits

Octopuses usually crawl along the seabed using the suction cups in their arms, and their movements are very slow; most octopuses crawl along the seabed using their suction cups, but when frightened they will spray water from their body tubes with such strong force that they can quickly move in the opposite direction.

Squids and cuttlefish swim quickly in the sea.

Octopuses are nocturnal animals, very sensitive to light, and prefer to stay in dark environments. Fishermen often throw special clay pots into the sea, then calculate the time and lure the octopus into the pot, waiting for the octopus to get into the pot and fall into the trap.

Squid and cuttlefish, however, like light, so fishermen take advantage of their habits and hang fish-attracting lights on their fishing boats, wait for them to swarm in, and then catch them all in one net.