Tentacle looping exposed outside the pockets in the paintpot cuttlefish Ascarosepion tullbergi

Cuttlefishes store their two tentacles in paired pockets. Typically, they keep the tentacles fully retracted or expose only the distal tips from the pocket openings while resting or swimming. Here, we document that the paintpot cuttlefish, Ascarosepion tullbergi, holds its tentacles in a looped configuration outside the pockets. Captive individuals consistently kept the tentacular stalks externally visible and looped in the resting position. They unlooped and then extended the tentacles toward prey. After feeding, the tentacles became unlooped during funnel jets and then rapidly returned to the characteristic resting configuration. Our observations provide a unique example of how cuttlefishes hold their tentacles.