News Animals

Cuttlefish ink may overwhelm sharks’ sense of smell

The defense mechanism exploits the predators’ keen scent detection 

Image of a common cuttlefish, which has a an elongated bulbous body with zebra-like stripes. Tentacles extend from its face.

Ink released by the common cuttlefish (shown) may barrage sharks’ smell sensors to deter the predators, according to a new study.

Yiming Chen/Getty Images

By McKenzie Prillaman

A plume of ink can help hide a cuttlefish as it scuttles away from a predator. But that smoke screen’s stench may also warn sharks to stay away.