How molluscs use colour to defend themselves!

Squids, octopuses, and cuttlefishes are among the few animals in the world that can change the colour of their skin in the blink of an eye. These mollusks with arms attached to their heads—can change their skin tone to match their surroundings, rendering them nearly invisible, or alternatively give themselves a pattern that makes them stand out.

Octopuses and cuttlefish also use colour change to warn their predators or any animals that threaten them. One of the best examples is the extremely venomous blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), which lives in tide pools in the Pacific and Indian Oceans from Japan to Australia.

Find examples of molluscs to show how they use colour to camouflage themselves, defending themselves and other prey.