 Like some other cephalopods , bigfin reef squids are capable of metachrosis – rapidly changing body colouration and patterns through voluntary control of chromatophores . They also possess iridophores ( particularly in the head ) , a form of structural colouration that produces iridescent metallic greens and red when illuminated . They are also possibly one of two squid species with leucophores . Leucophores are a reflector @-@ type structural colouration that reflects ambient light , such that they are white in white light , green in green light , and so on . Bigfin reef squids are remarkable for having the ability to produce complex body patterns from the moment they hatch . In comparison , other loliginid squid species do not produce complex body patterns at less than four months of age . The patterns produced by bigfin reef squids , however , are less diverse than those of the Caribbean reef squids . 
