Several baby cuttlefish surprised visitors at the Falmouth Aquarium earlier this week when they hatched from their eggs.
"I was cleaning around the eggs to make sure they had enough oxygen, chatting to the visitors, and all of a sudden we saw tiny shapes come out of the black eggs and swim around. They are incredibly small, so we are fortunate we witnessed the moment they emerged," says trainee Marine Biologist, Maxine Oliver.
More than 50 cuttlefish eggs were donated by local fisherman from Mylor, Cameron Henry, having been found on a crab pot. They will be cared for by marine biologists at the Falmouth Aquarium until they’re strong enough to be released back into the wild.
"We are delighted with the new arrivals, these beautiful creatures captivate the public’s imagination and really help people to fall in love with the oceans. Creating this engagement is the key to marine conservation and is the primary purpose of our charity," says Chloe Kingston, Marine Biologist and Operations Manager at the Falmouth Aquarium.
Through the Captivated by Cuttlefish exhibit, the Falmouth Aquarium is raising awareness on Cornish marine life, and the importance of protecting it. Cuttlefish are fascinating creatures found all along the British coast. The inquisitive and highly intelligent cuttlefish have one of the largest brain-to-body size ratios of all the invertebrates, and have the potential to teach us about the evolution of intelligence throughout the animal kingdom.
Falmouth Aquarium marine biologists will be giving regular talks about the captivating creatures every day from 10am to 5pm.
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