From Nature’s Masters of Camouflage to Engineered Optics: Cephalopod-Inspired Materials and Technologies

Abstract

Cephalopods (e.g., octopus, squid, and cuttlefish) are a class of soft-bodied marine invertebrates renowned for their ability to dynamically alter color and appearance for camouflage in complex environments. Despite their popularity in human history and culture, the mechanisms underlying the dazzling visual feats displayed by cephalopod skin were not fully understood until recent decades. These feats are enabled by a synchronized orchestra of thousands to millions of dynamic bio-optical components embedded in the skin—each comprising highly evolved biological structures and a unique materials foundation—capable of unparalleled manipulation of incident light through neuromuscular or biochemical control. While our fundamental understanding of cephalopod optical biology and camouflage behaviors continue to evolve, it has already inspired numerous man-made technologies over the past decade with tunable optical functionalities across various spectral ranges. However, a comprehensive and up-to-date overview covering cephalopod camouflage tactics, the underlying mechanisms at the organ, cellular, and molecular levels, and the development of dynamic optical materials and systems derived from and inspired by cephalopod skin remains lacking and is highly needed. In this review, we summarize key recent advances in the optical biology of cephalopods and discuss how these insights have informed the design of dynamic, stimuli-responsive optical materials and systems. In addition, we provide our perspectives on future research directions in this rapidly growing field, with the aim to stimulate interdisplinary research across cephalopod biology, materials science, and engineering domains.