3 euro Austria 2024 - Dwarf Cuttlefish

Located in the cephalopod's mantle, the Hawaiian bobtail squid's luminescent organ is fed by bioluminescent bacteria, with which the squid enjoys an extraordinary partnership. The bacteria produce light, and in exchange, the squid provides them with shelter and food in the form of a solution of sugar and amino acids. When the bacteria begin to glow, the squid's silhouette disappears in the light from above, and when viewed from below, it is indistinguishable from the glistening surface of the water, for example when illuminated by moonlight.

Cephalopods, especially octopuses, are intelligent animals and their many abilities fascinate visitors to aquariums, where it has been demonstrated that they can solve tasks such as opening cans, correctly solving riddles and even using a camera.

Coin motif

The twelve magical sea creatures from the Luminous Marine Lifeseries are silhouetted on the obverse of the coin. Air bubbles rise between them and a tail fin disappears beneath the waves on the right. On the reverse, a wide band reminiscent of an old-fashioned porthole frames an aquatic scene featuring a Hawaiian squid in the center, its tentacles protruding. A sea snail and coral are visible in the background.

To ensure that the ocean habitat remains as diverse and colorful as it is in the Luminous Marine Lifepieces , it's imperative that we protect it at all costs, not least from ourselves.