This is the amazing moment a cuttlefish uses its colour-changing skin to hypnotise its prey on Blue Planet II.

Footage from Sunday's episode of the BBC natural history programme shows the broadclub cuttlefish - also known as sepia latimanus - in Indonesia, using its unique talents to hunt crabs.

'Its skin contains millions of pigment cells with which it can create ever-changing colours and patterns,' broadcaster David Attenborough explains in the documentary.

Footage from Sunday's episode of the BBC natural history programme shows the broadclub cuttlefish - also known as sepia latimanus - in Indonesia, using its unique talents to hunt crabs

'And that, apparently, hypnotises the crab.'

But the marine animal also has its own enemies to look out for.

'The cuttlefish may be clever, but a shark is bigger, and it eats cuttlefish,' Attenborough says.

It is then seen using its colour-changing skills to blend into its surroundings as a shark swims past.

Cuttlefish, like octopuses, are known mimics, and can change their colour, skin texture and posture to instantly blend in with their surroundings

WHAT ARE CUTTLEFISH? Cuttlefish are marine animals characterised by a prominent head, a soft body shell and a set of eight arms. They are cephalopods, closely related to octopuses and squid. They eat small fish and molluscs, and are commonly found in the Mediterranean, North and Baltic seas, although populations have been found as far south as South Africa. Known as the chameleons of the marine world, cuttlefish can change the colour and texture of their skin, even disguising themselves as floating seaweed to stalk their prey. Advertisement

Cuttlefish, like octopuses, are known mimics, and can change their colour, skin texture and posture to instantly blend in with their surroundings.

They are known to make complex movements with their arms to capture prey, as part of mating rituals and in mimicking their surroundings.

Previous research on the fish has shown that males can make half their bodies look like females to trick their rivals.

On one side of its body, it adopts female markings to deter potential rivals, while on the other, it displays brilliant masculine colours.

This enables it to covertly attract partners-to-be without fear of being chased off.

The behaviour was found in the male mourning cuttlefish, a species common off Australia's east coast.

It is meant to boost mating chances in a short-lived species where discerning females far outnumber fiercely competitive males.

Blue Planet II is broadcast on BBC One, 8pm Sunday.