Octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, known as cephalopods, have excellent camouflaging capabilities. All the three have their own unique way of camouflaging.

Octopus can imitate the color and texture of a rock or any other species. In the case of squid, it can give its skin a shine, so as to match the water in which it swims. Lastly, cuttlefish hides itself in black and white squares.

Cephalopods can perform these amazing tasks due to a fabric of specialized cells present in their skin. Two new studies published in The Journal Experimental Biology stated that they have another method as well to carry out this task, through their skin.

In order to adopt a new look, cephalopods need to perceive the background. The researchers of the new study said that they can perceive light through skin as well.

When these species perceive color through eyes then the light strikes molecules in the retina known as opsins. The striking act starts a biochemical reaction, which sends an electric signal from the cephalopod’s eye to its brain.

In 2010, a group of researchers being headed by Roger T. Hanlon, a biologist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, found that cuttlefish can make opsins in their skin. The discovery gave birth to a possibility that animals can sense light through skin as well.

In the next stage, Hanlon joined hands with Thomas W. Cronin, a visual ecologist at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and his team to know more about the phenomenon.

Through the research, it was found that cephalopods have pigmented-packed cells in their skin called as chromatophores. When muscles contract, the cephalopods stretch out these cells and more light is absorbed allowing animals to have new colors.

Then, the researchers developed molecular probes so that opsins in the skin can be found out. Cuttlefish and squids were found to produce opsins.

This study encouraged Todd H. Oakley, a biologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and M. Desmond Ramirez, to study octopus in the lookout for skin opsins. Octopus also makes opsins, but in hair-like nerve endings in the skin.