Cuttlebone

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Cuttlefish-Cuttlebone2.jpg
Cuttlefish-Cuttlebone1.jpg
Top and bottom view of a cuttlebone, the buoyancy organ and internal shell of a cuttlefish
Cuttlebone of Sepia officinalis (left to right: ventral, dorsal, and lateral views) Herklots 1859 I 2 Sepia officinalis - schelp.jpg
Cuttlebone of Sepia officinalis (left to right: ventral, dorsal, and lateral views)
Common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis Sepia officinalis-f.jpg
Common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis
Tortoise with cuttlebone Turtle and Sepia.jpg
Tortoise with cuttlebone
Fossil cuttlebone of the Pliocene species Sepia rugulosa Fossils - Museu Geologic del Seminari de Barcelona 38.JPG
Fossil cuttlebone of the Pliocene species Sepia rugulosa
Fossilised cuttlebone-like gladius of Trachyteuthis Trachyteuthis hastiformis 01.JPG
Fossilised cuttlebone-like gladius of Trachyteuthis

Cuttlebone, also known as cuttlefish bone, is a hard, brittle internal structure (an internal shell) found in all members of the family Sepiidae, commonly known as cuttlefish, within the cephalopods. In other cephalopod families it is called a gladius.

Contents

Cuttlebone is composed primarily of aragonite. It is a chambered, gas-filled shell used for buoyancy control; its siphuncle is highly modified and is on the ventral side of the shell. [2] The microscopic structure of cuttlebone consists of narrow layers connected by numerous upright pillars.

Depending on the species, cuttlebones implode at a depth of 200 to 600 metres (660 to 1,970 ft). Because of this limitation, most species of cuttlefish live on the seafloor in shallow water, usually on the continental shelf. [3]

The largest cuttlebone belongs to the Australian giant cuttlefish, which lives between the surface and a maximum depth of 100 metres.

Human uses

In the past, cuttlebones were ground up to make polishing powder, which was used by goldsmiths. [4] The powder was also added to toothpaste, [5] and was used as an antacid for medicinal purposes [4] or as an absorbent. They were also used as an artistic carving medium during the 19th [6] [7] and 20th centuries. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Today, cuttlebones are commonly used as calcium-rich dietary supplements for caged birds, chinchillas, hermit crabs, reptiles, shrimp, and snails. These are not intended for human consumption. [13] [14]

Lime production

As a carbonate-rich biogenic raw material, cuttlebone has potential to be used in the production of calcitic lime. [15]

Jewelry making

Because cuttlebone is able to withstand high temperatures and is easily carved, it serves as mold-making material for small metal castings for the creation of jewelry and small sculptural objects. [lower-alpha 1]

It can also be used in the process of pewter casting, as a mould.

Internal structure

The microstructure of the cuttlebone consists of two components, horizontal septa and vertical pillars. Both components are composed predominantly of aragonite. [16] The horizontal septa divide the cuttlebone into separate chambers. These chambers are supported by the vertical pillars which have a corrugated (or "wavy") structure. [16] The thickness of these pillars varies from species to species, but are typically a few microns thick. [16] [17] The horizontal septa are typically thicker than the vertical pillars and consist of a double-layered structure. The upper layer of the septa and walls consist of vertically aligned crystals, whereas the bottom sublayer consists of nanorods rotated with respect to each other to form a "plywood" structure. [17] Overall, this chambered microstructure results in the cuttlebone having a porosity over 90% by volume. [17]

Mechanical properties

The cuttlebone has been studied extensively due to its ability to be simultaneously lightweight, stiff, and tolerant to damage. This combination of mechanical properties has led to research into cuttlebone-inspired biomimetic ceramic foams. [18] In addition, due to its mechanical properties, cuttlebone has been used as scaffolding in superconductors [19] and tissue engineering applications. [20] The light weight of the cuttlebone derives from its high porosity (over 90% by volume). [17] The stiffness of the cuttlebone arises from the chambered structure composition of approximately 95% aragonite (a stiff material) and 5% organic material. [17] Since the stiffness of a composite will be dominated by the material with the largest volume fraction, the cuttlebone is also stiff. The specific stiffness of the cuttlebone in one species was measured to be as high as 8.4 [(MN)m/kg]. [17] The most intriguing property of cuttlebone is its ability to tolerate damage given that aragonite is a brittle material. The high tolerance to damage can be linked to the cuttlebone's unique microstructure. [18]

Deformation process

Due to the marine lifestyle of the cuttlefish, the cuttlebone must be capable of both withstanding large compressive forces from the water while avoiding sudden brittle failure. The cuttlebone of some species under compression has demonstrated a specific energy on par with some advanced foams made from more compliant materials such as metals and polymers. [17] The high energy absorption is a result of several factors.

The failure of the cuttlebone occurs in three distinct stages: local crack formation, crack expansion, and densification. [17] Crack formation typically occurs in the middle of the vertical walls in the chambered structure of the cuttlebone. [17] The location of crack formation is controlled by the waviness in the corrugated structure of the walls. The waviness of the walls in the cuttlebone provides an optimized balance between stiffness and brittleness of the overall structure. [18] This wavy structure inhibits crack propagation, increasing the energy input necessary for failure. After sufficient damage has occurred to the walls of the cuttlebone, a process known as densification occurs whereby the walls gradually compact while fracture continues. [17] Significant energy is dissipated in the continued cracking of the walls while densification is occurring. It has also been observed that under compressive stresses, the horizontally layered chambers of the cuttlebone will fail sequentially. While one chamber is undergoing fracture and densification, the other chambers will not deform until the septum between the chambers has been penetrated. [17] The septum is significantly stronger than the vertical walls due to its "plywood" structure further increasing the total energy needed for complete structural failure of the cuttlebone.

See also

Explanatory footnotes

  1. ↑ Jewelers prepare cuttlebone for use as a mold by cutting it in half and rubbing the two sides together until they fit flush against one another. Then the casting can be done by carving a design into the cuttlebone, adding the necessary sprue, melting the metal in a separate pouring crucible, and pouring the molten metal into the mold through the sprue. Finally, the sprue is sawed off and the finished piece is polished.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squid</span> Superorder of cephalopod molluscs

A squid is a mollusc with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles in the superorder Decapodiformes, though many other molluscs within the broader Neocoleoidea are also called squid despite not strictly fitting these criteria. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, and a mantle. They are mainly soft-bodied, like octopuses, but have a small internal skeleton in the form of a rod-like gladius or pen, made of chitin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cephalopod</span> Class of mollusks

A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda such as a squid, octopus, cuttlefish, or nautilus. These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles modified from the primitive molluscan foot. Fishers sometimes call cephalopods "inkfish", referring to their common ability to squirt ink. The study of cephalopods is a branch of malacology known as teuthology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nacre</span> Organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs

Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic–inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. It is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siphuncle</span> Strand of tissue passing longitudinally through the shell of a cephalopod mollusk

The siphuncle is a strand of tissue passing longitudinally through the shell of a cephalopod mollusk. Only cephalopods with chambered shells have siphuncles, such as the extinct ammonites and belemnites, and the living nautiluses, cuttlefish, and Spirula. In the case of the cuttlefish, the siphuncle is indistinct and connects all the small chambers of that animal's highly modified shell; in the other cephalopods it is thread-like and passes through small openings in the septa (walls) dividing the camerae (chambers). Some older studies have used the term siphon for the siphuncle, though this naming convention is uncommon in modern studies to prevent confusion with a mollusc organ of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belemnoidea</span> Extinct group of squid-like animals

Belemnoids are an extinct group of marine cephalopod, very similar in many ways to the modern squid and closely related to the modern cuttlefish. Like them, the belemnoids possessed an ink sac, but, unlike the squid, they possessed ten arms of roughly equal length, and no tentacles. The name "belemnoid" comes from the Greek word βέλεμνον, belemnon meaning "a dart or arrow" and the Greek word είδος, eidos meaning "form".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant cuttlefish</span> Species of cephalopod known as the giant cuttlefish and Australian giant cuttlefish

Giant cuttlefish also known as the Australian giant cuttlefish, is the world's largest cuttlefish species, growing to 50 cm (20 in) in mantle length and up to 100 cm (39 in) in total length. They can be over 10.5 kg (23 lb) in weight. Using cells known as chromatophores, the cuttlefish can put on spectacular displays, changing color in an instant. The giant cuttlefish is native to temperate and subtropical waters of Australia, from Brisbane in Queensland to Shark Bay in Western Australia and Tasmania to the south. It occurs on rocky reefs, seagrass beds, and sand and mud seafloor to a depth of 100 m (330 ft). In 2009 the species was listed at Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to an observed declining trend at that time.

<i>Sepia latimanus</i> Species of cephalopods known as the broadclub cuttlefish

Sepia latimanus, also known as the broadclub cuttlefish, is widely distributed from the Andaman Sea, east to Fiji, and south to northern Australia. It is the most common cuttlefish species on coral reefs, living at a depth of up to 30 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common cuttlefish</span> Species of cephalopod

The common cuttlefish or European common cuttlefish is one of the largest and best-known cuttlefish species. They are a migratory species that spend the summer and spring inshore for spawning and then move to depths of 100 to 200m during autumn and winter. They grow to 49 cm in mantle length (ML) and 4 kg in weight. Animals from subtropical seas are smaller and rarely exceed 30 cm in ML.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharaoh cuttlefish</span> Species of cephalopods

The pharaoh cuttlefish is a large cuttlefish species, growing to 42 cm in mantle length and 5 kg in weight. It is also known as seiche pharaon.

<i>Sepia mestus</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia mestus, also known as the reaper cuttlefish or red cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean, specifically Escape Reef off Queensland to Murrays Beach off Jervis Bay. Reports of this species from China and Vietnam are now known to be misidentifications. S. mestus lives at a depth of between 0 and 22 m.

<i>Sepia novaehollandiae</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia novaehollandiae is a species of cuttlefish native to the southern Indo-Pacific. Its natural range stretches from Shellharbour, New South Wales to North West Shelf in Western Australia. It lives at depths of between 15 and 348 m.

Sepia australis, the southern cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish which is found in the eastern South Atlantic Ocean and the western Indian Ocean off the coasts of Southern Africa, possibly extending into the waters off East Africa.

<i>Sepia tuberculata</i> Species of mollusc

Sepia tuberculata is a species of cuttlefish native to South African waters from Melkbosstrand to Knysna. It belongs to the genus Sepia. It lives in very shallow water to a depth of 3 m. It is endemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuttlefish</span> Order of molluscs

Cuttlefish or cuttles are marine molluscs of the order Sepiida. They belong to the class Cephalopoda which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Cuttlefish have a unique internal shell, the cuttlebone, which is used for control of buoyancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mineralized tissues</span> Biological tissues incorporating minerals

Mineralized tissues are biological tissues that incorporate minerals into soft matrices. Typically these tissues form a protective shield or structural support. Bone, mollusc shells, deep sea sponge Euplectella species, radiolarians, diatoms, antler bone, tendon, cartilage, tooth enamel and dentin are some examples of mineralized tissues.

Sepia trygonina, the trident cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish in the genus Sepia from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean. Cuttlefish are a specific type of cephalopod that is a highly evolved branch of the Mollusca phylum. They are characterized by having a calcareous shell that is covered by a membrane with free fin lobes that are laterally placed on both sides of their head. They have a centered beak that is used for feeding which is surrounded by 10 appendages. The trident cuttlefish are carnivores that prey on fish, crustaceans, and shellfish. They are also a major source of food for larger marine life like dolphins, seals, and even birds.

<i>Sepia elegans</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia elegans, the elegant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish in the family Sepiidae from the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is an important species for fisheries in some parts of the Mediterranean where its population may have suffered from overfishing.

Sepia hierredda, the giant African cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish from the family Sepiidae, which was previously considered conspecific with the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. It is found along the western coast of Africa and is an important species to fisheries.

<i>Sepioloidea lineolata</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepioloidea lineolata or more commonly known as the striped pyjama squid or the striped dumpling squid is a type of bottletail squid, that inhabits the Indo-Pacific Oceans of Australia. Although it is almost a cuttlefish, it does not have a cuttlebone; it is otherwise exactly the same as cuttlefish. Therefore it is a sepioid, not a real cuttlefish. However, it is usually referred to as a cuttlefish for public simplification. It is not a squid either. The striped pyjama squid lives on the seafloor and is both venomous and poisonous. When fully mature, a striped pyjama squid will only be about 7 to 8 centimetres in length. Baby striped pyjama squids can be smaller than 10 millimetres (0.39 in).

<i>Sepia lycidas</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia lycidas, commonly known as the kisslip cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish within the genus Sepia. They are also classified under the family Sepiidae, which encompasses some of the most commonly known and recognized cuttlefish. Phylogenetically, this species of cuttlefish is most closely related to Sepia aculeata, Sepia esculenta, and Sepia pharaonis. This species is typically reddish brown to purple in color, with patches and stripes present on their dorsal mantle. On average, they grow to be about 38 cm in length and weigh 5 kg at maximum. The kisslip cuttlefish can be found mainly within the Indo-West Pacific, at depths ranging from 15–100 meters. Additionally, this species exhibits many diverse, complex reproductive behaviors; for example, courting, mating displays, and mate competition. Other interesting behaviors includes their feeding and hunting methods, which entails turning towards a preferred direction to "jump on" and engulf their prey of small fish and crustaceans. Sepia lycidas has many human uses and is important in the economy of many Southeast Asian countries, especially since they are often eaten for their high nutritional value. They are also currently being studied as an alternative source of collagen for human use, since their thick outer skin contain high levels of collagen that goes to waste when they are eaten or caught as bycatch.

References

  1. ↑ Fuchs, D.; Engeser, T.; Keupp, H. (2007). "Gladius shape variation in coleoid cephalopod Trachyteuthis from the upper Jurassic nusplingen and Solnhofen plattenkalks" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 52 (3): 575–589.
  2. ↑ Rexfort, A.; Mutterlose, J. (2006). "Stable isotope records from Sepia officinalis — a key to understanding the ecology of belemnites?". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 247 (3–4): 212. Bibcode:2006E&PSL.247..212R. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.04.025.
  3. ↑ Norman, M.D. (2000). Cephalopods: A world guide. Conch Books.
  4. 1 2 "Uses for cuttlebone. The time when it was used as a medicine (1912)". Alton Evening Telegraph. 3 October 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Do you know this?". The World's News. 8 July 1950. p. 26. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Wesleyan anniversary". Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser. 17 October 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Carnival at Norwood". Evening Journal. 24 October 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Eleanor Barbour's pages for country women". Chronicle. 16 July 1942. p. 26. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Note book cuttlefish". The Register News-Pictorial. 17 May 1930. p. 3S. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Models from cuttle-fish". The Age. Interesting Hobbies. 30 June 1950. p. 5S. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Back to semaphore celebrations". Port Adelaide News. 13 December 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Out among the people". The Advertiser. 12 May 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Norman, M.D.; Reid, A. (2000). A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish, and Octopuses of Australasia. CSIRO Publishing.
  14. ↑ Zhu, X. D.; Luo, J. Y.; Kong, D. D.; Wu, J. J.; Sheng, P.; Yang, M. H. (2019). "海螵蛸中砷形态分析及限量标准研究 - 中国知网" [Analysis of arsenic speciation in Endoconcha Sepiae and research on its limit standard]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica. 44 (23): 5065–5071. doi:10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20190903.201. PMID   32237338. generally contains high concentration of arsenic
  15. ↑ Ferraz, E.; Gamelas, J.A.F.; Coroado, J.; Monteiro, C.; Rocha, F. (20 July 2020). "Exploring the potential of cuttlebone waste to produce building lime". Materiales de Construcción. 70 (339): 225. doi: 10.3989/mc.2020.15819 . ISSN   1988-3226.
  16. 1 2 3 Checa, Antonio G.; Cartwright, Julyan H. E.; Sánchez-Almazo, Isabel; Andrade, José P.; Ruiz-Raya, Francisco (September 2015). "The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Sepiidae, Cephalopoda) constructs cuttlebone from a liquid-crystal precursor". Scientific Reports. 5 (1): 11513. arXiv: 1506.08290 . Bibcode:2015NatSR...511513C. doi:10.1038/srep11513. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   4471886 . PMID   26086668.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Yang, Ting; Jia, Zian; Chen, Hongshun; Deng, Zhifei; Liu, Wenkun; Chen, Liuni; Li, Ling (22 September 2020). "Mechanical design of the highly porous cuttlebone: A bioceramic hard buoyancy tank for cuttlefish". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 117 (38): 23450–23459. Bibcode:2020PNAS..11723450Y. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2009531117 . ISSN   0027-8424. PMC   7519314 . PMID   32913055.
  18. 1 2 3 "Cuttlebone's microstructure sits at a 'sweet spot'". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Culverwell, Emily; Wimbush, Stuart C.; Hall, Simon R. (2008). "Biotemplated synthesis of an ordered macroporous superconductor with high critical current density using a cuttlebone template". Chem. Commun. (9): 1055–1057. doi:10.1039/B715368F. ISSN   1359-7345. PMID   18292888.
  20. ↑ Kannan, S.; Rocha, J.H.G.; Agathopoulos, S.; Ferreira, J.M.F. (March 2007). "Fluorine-substituted hydroxyapatite scaffolds hydrothermally grown from aragonitic cuttlefish bones". Acta Biomaterialia. 3 (2): 243–249. doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2006.09.006. PMID   17127113.
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