Cuttlefish are a common find on beaches in southern Australia, but few people know they are the backbone of a marine creature similar to a squid -- and certainly not related to fish.
Light and crumbly, the cuttle bone gives the squid buoyancy, as well as support. Pet shops often sell cuttlefish to people who have caged birds. The fine crumbly material is ideal for birds to sharpen their beaks on. Another use for cuttlefish is to give a fine polish to granite headstones.
One of my favourite things to find washed up on the seashore is a cluster of cuttlefish egg capsules. When freshly bathed in sea water and illuminated in rays of sunshine, they glisten and shimmer like a luscious string of pearls.
There are few things more beautiful than a cluster of cuttlefish egg capsules.
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