The GATHERING
BBC Wildlife|May 2021
In May, the quiet coastal town of Whyalla bursts into life as thousands of Australian giant cuttlefish gather offshore to breed.
Melissa Gaskill
The GATHERING
Just off the rocky shore, several groups of people stand in hip-deep water, while a few dozen more float face down in the gentle swell. Get a little closer and the focus of their attention starts to become visible. Beneath the surface, countless alien-like creatures are moving in a slow, silent dance.

These peculiar creatures are not aliens, of course, but Australian giant cuttlefish. From May to August each year, these spectacular cephalopods, which can reach almost 1m long, gather in their thousands in False Bay, a wide, shallow arc between Point Lowly and the town of Whyalla. The spot sits high inside Spencer Gulf on the coast of South Australia. The cuttlefish come here to spawn, but where they come from, and why they choose this spot, remains a mystery.

The main attraction

The style and energy with which the animals conduct the business of breeding attracts visitors from far and wide. Short-lived cuttlefish have only one chance to pass on their genes, and with 11 males typically competing for each female at the aggregation, they throw everything at it. A suitor positions himself next to a female and turns on the charm, flashing eyecatching shades of neon blue, purple, green, red and gold and intricate patterns of dots and lines. Some blanch completely white; others create bold stripes across their bodies or even ripple in patterns. While he works on his appearance, a male may also gently caress the female using his eight tentacles.

This story is from the May 2021 edition of BBC Wildlife.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2021 edition of BBC Wildlife.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BBC WILDLIFEView All
ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE Giant panda
BBC Wildlife

ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE Giant panda

Cuddly-looking with highly distinctive black-and-white fur and dark ‘spectacles’, the giant panda – often referred to simply as the panda – is an undeniably popular and much-loved bear, both the national animal of China and, of course, the iconic logo of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
CRUISE CONTROL
BBC Wildlife

CRUISE CONTROL

As more people are drawn to experience the frozen frontiers, can tourism to the seventh continent be a good thing for nature?

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2023
COWS COME HOME
BBC Wildlife

COWS COME HOME

Tauros are the closest thing to the extinct aurochs. And they are coming to the UK.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2023
BIG LITTLE JOURNEYS
BBC Wildlife

BIG LITTLE JOURNEYS

A closer look at the smallbut-mighty animals that must travel vast distances to survive

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2023
MOUNTAIN MISSION
BBC Wildlife

MOUNTAIN MISSION

Canada lynx and wolverines are secretive creatures, but dedicated scientists in Montana are tracking them to inform conservation

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2023
LET'S GET TOGETHER - ROOSTING PIED WAGTAILS
BBC Wildlife

LET'S GET TOGETHER - ROOSTING PIED WAGTAILS

Remember to look up this Christmas to enjoy gangs of pied wags' gathered in the trees

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
FEMALE OF THE SPECIES - REINDEER
BBC Wildlife

FEMALE OF THE SPECIES - REINDEER

Lucy Cooke explains why the females of this Christmas icon have antlers too

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
Ancient woodland still at risk from HS2
BBC Wildlife

Ancient woodland still at risk from HS2

Scrapping the northern phase has spared some sites, but woodlands and reserves remain under threat

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023
Ocean superheroes
BBC Wildlife

Ocean superheroes

Release of 10.000 oysters in North East England promises to improve water quality and marine life

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023
MEET THE VOLUNTEER - Keith Dobell
BBC Wildlife

MEET THE VOLUNTEER - Keith Dobell

The retiree cares for a park, an old railway track and a wood in his home county of Northamptonshire

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023