Cuttlefish Hypnotic Display (2D)

This 2D side-view simulator models the cuttlefish's "passing cloud" hunting display: hard-edged dark and light chromatophore bands travel along the mantle from head to tail or tail to head, at a speed and wavelength you set, instead of the smoother color-matching blend used for camouflage. A crab wandering the seabed accumulates a mesmerize meter only while the display is active and it is within range and roughly facing the cuttlefish; once full, it freezes in place and can be struck and caught, after which a new crab wanders in. Switch to the radiating pulse-ring pattern, flip the sweep direction, or drop the contrast to see how each change affects how quickly prey succumbs.