This year’s cuttlefish season has been unlike any other.

Every winter, more than 100,000 giant Australian cuttlefish can usually be found mating along the rocky coastline of Point Lowly, northeast of Whyalla, South Australia. They put on shapeshifting, colourful displays in their attempts to attract a mate.

This is the only cuttlefish aggregation in the world. In a typical year, thousands of enthusiastic fans travel to regional SA and brave the freezing water temperatures to experience this unique phenomenon.

In stark contrast, this year’s cuttlefish season has seen significantly fewer cuttlefish, and tourists have been kept away.

What makes this cuttlefish aggregation so unique?

Giant Australian cuttlefish are the world’s largest cuttlefish species, and are only found in southern Australia. Cuttlefish are cephalopods, a type of advanced mollusc that also includes octopuses, squids and nautiluses.

Adult giant cuttlefish typically congregate in small groups to mate. But at Point Lowly, one special population forms a single, large mating aggregation along an 8 kilometre stretch of shallow reef. Like most cephalopods, the cuttlefish life cycle lasts about a year. In winter, eggs are laid at the aggregation site, which hatch in spring; juveniles........

© The Conversation