Cephalopods (octopus, squid, and cuttlefish) have very large, powerful eyes and when light enters their eye, it comes in contact with a molecule called opsins that starts a reaction and send signals from the eye to the brain. A new research project is showing that cephalopods have these same molecules on their skin! Scientists discovered that opsins are only found in the chromatophores, pigment packed cells in a cephalopod’s skin, which stretch with muscle movement and allowing more light in and giving the animals a new color. They also found other enzymes in the skin that are normally found in the eye that relay messages from light to the nervous system. So these amazing masters of camouflage may be “seeing” with their skin! Click here to see an amazing master in action and click the article to learn more on cephalopod’s high def display skin.
Seeing With Skin?
