The study of cephalopods is a branch of malacology known as teuthology.Ĭephalopods became dominant during the Ordovician period, represented by primitive nautiloids. Fishers sometimes call cephalopods " inkfish", referring to their common ability to squirt ink. These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles ( muscular hydrostats) modified from the primitive molluscan foot. Extant and extinct cephalopods clockwise from top-left: common octopus ( Octopus vulgaris), Caribbean reef squid ( Sepioteuthis sepioidea), chambered nautilus ( Nautilus pompilius), Orthosphynctes, Clarkeiteuthis conocauda, and common cuttlefish ( Sepia officinalis)Ī cephalopod / ˈ s ɛ f ə l ə p ɒ d/ is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda / s ɛ f ə ˈ l ɒ p ə d ə/ ( Greek plural κεφαλόποδες, kephalópodes "head-feet") such as a squid, octopus, cuttlefish, or nautilus.
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