Almost all cephalopods- the tentacled class of marine mollusks that include the octopus, squid, and cuttlefish- have the ability to eject dark ink from their body as a method of escaping predators. The melanin-based ink is stored in an ink sac until it is released to create a dark cloud in the water, giving the cephalopod time to flee from danger.
Cephalopod ink is mainly used in cooking to create dark-colored foods or as medium for painting. This sample however has not been preserved for consumption. Please do not eat.
Vial contains approximately 5mL of ink.
Cephalopod ink is a dark-coloured ink released into water by most species of cephalopod , usually as an escape mechanism. All cephalopods, with the exception of the Nautilidae and the Cirrina (deep-sea octopuses), are able to release ink.
The ink is released from the ink sacs (located between the gills ) and is dispersed more widely when its release is accompanied by a jet of water from the siphon. Its dark colour is caused by its main constituent, melanin . Each species of cephalopod produces slightly differently coloured inks; generally, octopuses produce black ink, squid ink is blue-black, and cuttlefish ink is a shade of brown.
