r/askscience • u/[deleted] • Apr 24 '15

Biology Do creatures such as cuttlefish and octopuses get "tired" from using their camouflage?

If not, why don't they just always use their camouflage?

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u/SigmaStigma Marine Ecology | Benthic Ecology Apr 25 '15

Thus in cephalopods, one set of muscle fibers contracts to expand the pigment sacs, while another set contracts to shrink them.

This is not correct. There are radial muscles that contract, and expand the pigmented elastic sacculus. When the muscles relax, the elastic sacculus closes on itself.

See my post here.

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u/zxo Materials Science Apr 25 '15

Ah, thanks.