Metasepia pfefferi, also Known as Pfeffer's flamboyant cuttlefish, is a Species of Cuttlefish. (21 Pics)

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Metasepia pfefferi, also known as Pfeffer's flamboyant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish occurring in tropical Indo-Pacific waters off northern Australia, southern New Guinea, as well as numerous islands of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Victoria, Australia, discovered that this unique species of cuttlefish is poisonous

The natural range of M. pfefferi extends from Mandurah in Western Australia (32°33′S 115°04′E), northeastward to Moreton Bay in southern Queensland (27°25′S 153°15′E),^{[citation needed]} and across the Arafura Sea to the southern coast of New Guinea.^[2] This species has also been recorded from Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, and even as far west as the Malaysian islands of Mabul and Sipadan.^[3] They are also common in the Philippines and are frequently sighted in the Visayas.^{[citation needed]}

The type specimen, a female, was collected off Challenger Station 188 in the Arafura Sea (09°59′S 139°42′E) at a depth of 51 m on October 9, 1874, as part of the Challenger expedition.^[2][4] It is deposited at The Natural History Museum in London.^[

M. pfefferi has been recorded from sand and mud substrate in shallow waters at depths of 3 to 86 m. The species is active during the day and has been observed hunting fish and crustaceans. It employs complex and varied camouflage to stalk its prey. The normal base color of this species is dark brown. Individuals that are disturbed or attacked quickly change colour to a pattern of black, dark brown, and white, with yellow patches around the mantle, arms, and eyes. The arm tips often display bright red coloration to ward off would-be predators. Animals displaying this colour pattern have been observed using their lower arms to walk or "amble" along the sea floor while rhythmically waving the wide protective membranes on their arms.^[2] This behavior advertises a poisonous nature, the flesh of this cuttlefish contains a unique toxin.

From:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metasepia_pfefferi