The cuttlefish has four pairs of legs which it can draw into its beak, and it can hide its beak under its belly.
As an added precaution against danger, it emits a jet of ink to screen itself and it does this when it meets a fishing boat. Whereupon the fisherman casts his net on the inky spot and takes it out of the water.
Allegorical Meaning
The story illustrates how self-defense mechanisms can become self-sabotage, critiquing shortsighted solutions to threats. The tale warns that survival demands more than default defenses–it requires anticipating how opponents will weaponize your strengths.
The Cuttlefish’s Flawed Strategy
Its ink-spraying instinct, meant to obscure predators, ironically reveals its location to fishermen (“black water = target”).
Symbolizes overreliance on reflexive responses without adapting to context (e.g., politicians denying scandals, only drawing more attention).
Hierarchy of Intelligence
The fish’s “eight legs” (versatility) and ink (resource) suggest potential for smarter evasion. Yet it defaults to a primitive trick.
Contrasts with the fishermen’s observational cunning–they exploit the very trait meant to protect.
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