Cuttlebone signifies a special class of ultra-lightweight cellular natural material possessing unique chemical, mechanical
and structural properties, which have drawn considerable attention in the literature. The aim of this paper is to better understand
the mechanical and biological roles of cuttlebone. First, the existing literature concerning the characterisation and potential
applications inspired by this remarkable biomaterial is critiqued. Second, the finite element-based homogenisation method is
used to verify that morphological variations within individual cuttlebone samples have minimal impact on the effective mechanical
properties. This finding agrees with existing literature, which suggests that cuttlebone strength is dictated by the cuttlefish
habitation depth. Subsequently, this homogenisation approach is further developed to characterise the effective mechanical
bulk modulus and biofluidic permeability that cuttlebone provides, thereby quantifying its mechanical and transporting
functionalities to inspire bionic design of structures and materials for more extensive applications. Finally, a brief rationale for
the need to design a biomimetic material inspired by the cuttlebone microstructure is provided, based on the preceding investigation