MOLLUSGA 



Cephalopoda 



Cephalopods are comparatively rare in the Red Sea. The 

 legendary giant octopus does not exist at all, and in the space 

 of five months we caught only three small specimens, the 

 biggest of these weighing about four pounds. Cuttlefish are 

 more common, but still rare. We observed no squids apart 

 from some specimens that were caught in the port of Massawa 

 with a forked harpoon and a light during the night. However, 

 it is probable that this species frequents greater depths, and 

 that that is why neither we nor the natives, who have not the 

 suitable tackle, ever met them. 



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