The skin of Sepioteuthis is translucent. There is an underlying layer of white reflecting cells known as leucophores. Color comes from organs full of pigment cells known as chromatophores . These cells are distributed in the dermal (outermost) layer and appear in the photo at left as small patches or dots. Chromatophores contain different types of pigments that result in different colors. Reds, yellows, brown and black are represented by the chromatophores. Other colors such as green and blue seem to be produced by a different group of reflecting cells call iridiphores.

How do Sepioteuthis and other cephalopods control the intensity and variety of colors they show on their skin? Click on the image at left to zoom even closer for a look at the chromatophores.