Listen to the new What The Duck?! episode … It’s all about the wondrous world of the male giant cuttlefish, aka Ascarosepion apama. History of distribution This spectacular marine invertebrate has a natural range across the southern coastline of Australia, from Brisbane on the east coast to Shark Bay in the west. Through the program, we hope to raise awareness of the special traits and habits of this fascinating species.
Narrated by Dr Ann Jones, this episode takes you behind the scenes into the incredible world of the giant cuttlefish. Learn how big it is and how smart it is! In addition to being exceptionally intelligent, this extraordinary creature can camouflage itself with astonishing agility. It is one of the most important parts of the entire marine ecosystem. From its habitat to its feeding habits and incredible mating rituals, “Cuttlefish” mesmerizes audiences with the cuttlefish’s overwhelming adaptability.
The giant cuttlefish can be spotted across the bottom half of Australia, highlighting the diverse marine life in this region. Researchers have learned a great deal over the past couple decades about these unique animals, their habits, and their relationship with habitat. Program faculty Dr. Mark Norman, Chief Scientist at Parks Victoria, imparts his experience to the program. In addition, he imbues it with a strong sense of the biological and ecological importance of these remarkable cuttlefish.
It was a talented team including Jacinta Bowler, Rebecca McLaren, and Dr. Ann Jones who brought this program to life. It provides an in-depth view of the anthropogenic threats giant cuttlefish are facing in an ever-evolving ecosystem. Hamish Camilleri takes on the role of Sound Engineer, reconfiguring the technical aspects of sound so that the audience undergoes a dynamic aural-cinematic journey. Petria Ladgrove is attached to the project as Executive Producer, ensuring high quality production across the board.
With plenty of ABC iview to go around, the platform continues to provide a fun, interesting and innovative point of access for audiences hungry for information about marine biology and conservation initiatives. Viewers can immerse themselves in another superb ABC iview series, “Dr Ann’s Secret Lives.” In this series, we hope to draw you into the amazing world of nature through Dr. Jones’s unique perspective.
