Cuttlebone
Cuttlebone is a hard brittle structure found inside cuttlefish. Like seashells, the cuttlebone is made of calcium carbonate. The cuttlebone is special as it is covered with tiny holes that the cuttlefish can fill with water or air. This allows the cuttlefish to control its ability to float or sink in water. In the past, cuttlebones were used to make polishing powder. This power was then added to toothpaste to make it look white. Today, cuttlebone is mainly used for caged birds and turtles in their habitats, so they get their calcium easily and fast.
Cuttlebone Media
Cuttlebone of Sepia officinalis (left to right: ventral, dorsal, and lateral views). The cuttlebone is about 15cm in length.
Fossil cuttlebone of the Pliocene species Sepia rugulosa
Fossilised cuttlebone-like gladius of Trachyteuthis
3D view of part of a cuttlebone at low resolution.
Overview of a part at high resolution, about 5 μm/voxel.
3D visualisation of µCT of a sepias cuttlebone. µCT was done using "CT Alpha" by company "Procon X-Rays GmbH", Garbsen, Germany. Visualisation was done using "VG Studio Max 2.1" by "Volume Graphics", Heidelberg, Germany. Resolution ~ 5 µm/voxel.
Detailed view at very high magnification. Wall thickness of the vertical structures is about 10 μm.
Flight through the corresponding μCT image stack, section direction about 30°, lateral view.
Flight through the corresponding μCT image stack, section direction about 30°, top view.
Flight through the aligned image stack, lateral view.
Flight through the aligned image stack, top view.
Flight through the aligned image stack, top view, magnified section.
