The capacity of cephalopods (cuttlefish, squid and octopus) to produce contrasting "visual effects" by rapid colour changes of the skin represents one of the most intringuing aspects of their behaviour and evolution This book concerns and compares the multitude of appearances of the skin - or body pattern - exhibited by 21 species of coleoid cephalopods. It is the results of the anlysis of more than 180 works published between 1856 and 2005. In the following pages we provide a short overview of how body pattering in cephalopods is achieved and brought about, and which are selective pressures that drove to its evolution. The volume comprises 705 definitions of the various components/patterns compiled in the form of "anthological reviews". The names (about 1200) coined by the different authors to describe the pattering of the 21 species, toghether with their synonyms and variations, are collected and listed as an "index of terms and synonyms". Synopses, arranged by category, are also included to facilitate comparative analysis accross species."Visual guidance" is achieved with the aid of more than 500 illustrations (mostly original), assembled in 96 plates, which depict the variety and richness of the boby pattering of the 21species considered.

The capacity of cephalopods (cuttlefish, squid and octopus) to produce contrasting "visual effects" by rapid colour changes of the skin represents one of the most intringuing aspects of their behaviour and evolution This book concerns and compares the multitude of appearances of the skin - or body pattern - exhibited by 21 species of coleoid cephalopods. It is the results of the anlysis of more than 180 works published between 1856 and 2005. In the following pages we provide a short overview of how body pattering in cephalopods is achieved and brought about, and which are selective pressures that drove to its evolution. The volume comprises 705 definitions of the various components/patterns compiled in the form of "anthological reviews". The names (about 1200) coined by the different authors to describe the pattering of the 21 species, toghether with their synonyms and variations, are collected and listed as an "index of terms and synonyms". Synopses, arranged by category, are also included to facilitate comparative analysis accross species."Visual guidance" is achieved with the aid of more than 500 illustrations (mostly original), assembled in 96 plates, which depict the variety and richness of the boby pattering of the 21species considered.