Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2013 | Page 57
COUNTRY LIFE
inshore to breed and lay eggs, which
you might see attached to seaweeds and
seagrass on a low tide. The eggs are easily
identified, as they resemble bunches of
black grapes.
After laying their eggs, females usually
die, and you often find cuttlefish bones
- the internalised shell - washed up
on the shore in late spring and early
summer. Possibly the cutest cephalopod
in our area is the little cuttle. Only five
centimetres long, it spends much of its
time half buried in the sand, hiding from
predators while keeping an eye out for
passing prey.
Octopuses are only occasionally found
in our local seas. The warm water
common octopus, has been found a few
times, but is on the edge of its range in
these cooler waters. The lesser, or curled
octopus, is more abundant. They often
feed on crabs; if you find crab remains,
it can indicate that octopuses have been
hunting. A few squid species are found
locally, including the European common
squid, and the long finned squid. You
can sometimes find their eggs attached to
the underside of rocks at low tide.
Although seeing our local cephalopods
is tricky without diving equipment,
finding eggs and bones on a seashore
ramble is a sure sign they are around.
Search for cephalopods or cuttlefish at
www.youtube.com or visit your local
aquarium.
Watch cuttlefish at Fort Victoria
Squi d eg gs
Your local
Wildlife Trust
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust works to create
a better future for wildlife and
wild places in Hampshire and
the Island. As the leading local
wildlife conservation charity, it
looks after 57 wildlife reserves,
A Sha n ny
Aquarium on the Island, then head
to the beach just outside to look for
cuttlefish bones. Full details of all the
Wildlife Trust’s Marine work can be
found at www.hiwwt.org.uk
has 28,000 members and 1,000
volunteers. The Trust manages
its own land and advises other
landowners how to manage
their land with wildlife in mind.
Staff and volunteers also carry
out surveys and gather data to
monitor how our local wildlife
is doing.
Beechcroft House, Vicarage
Lane, Curdridge, Hampshire
SO32 2DP
Tel: 01489 774400
www.hiwwt.org.uk
www.visitislandlife.com
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