Researchers at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands have studied how common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) use their suckers to grip prey on rough or uneven surfaces. Their findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, offer new insights into the mechanics of how these creatures use suction to hold onto objects. This research could inspire the development of new materials or technologies that mimic biological systems. The study, led by Guillermo Javier Amador and Brett Klaassen van Oorschot, focused on the microscopic structures of cuttlefish suckers. These structures, known as papillae, are tiny pillars located on the edges of the suction cups. The researchers used a custom-built, automated device called an indenter to test how well the suckers could stick to different surfaces. They discovered that the suckers adhered more strongly to stiffer surfaces compared to softer ones. This suggests that the texture and rigidity of a surface play a significant role in how effectively the cuttlefish can grip it. To better understand the mechanics of this process, the team created a mathematical model to predict how water might leak around the edges of a sucker. This leakage could affect the strength of the suction. The researchers concluded that the papillae help the cuttlefish maintain a secure grip on rough surfaces, which would be especially useful when capturing prey with hard, uneven shells, such as crabs and shrimp. Looking ahead, the team plans to study the suction mechanisms of other species, including deep-sea squid, to see if their structures differ and how these differences might relate to the types of prey they hunt. The insights from this research could lead to the development of new suction-based technologies inspired by cuttlefish. These could be used in robotic hands, manufacturing tools, medical devices, and even prosthetic limbs, enabling them to attach to a wide range of surfaces quickly and securely.