Sepia latimanus

Broadclub cuttlefish
S. latimanus from Sipadan, Malaysia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Sepiida
Family: Sepiidae
Genus: Sepia
Subgenus: Sepia
Species: S. latimanus
Binomial name
Sepia latimanus
Quoy & Gaimard, 1832
Synonyms
  • Sepia rappiana
    Férussac, 1835
  • Sepia mozambica
    Rochebrune, 1884
  • Sepia hercules
    Pilsbry, 1894
  • Ponderisepia eclogaria
    Iredale, 1926
  • Sepia harmeri
    Robson, 1928

Sepia latimanus, also known as the broadclub cuttlefish, is widely distributed from the Andaman Sea, east to Fiji, and south to northern Australia. It is the most common cuttlefish species on coral reefs, living at a depth of up to 30 m.[1]

The type specimen was collected in New Guinea and is deposited at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.[2]

Description

The broadclub cuttlefish is the second largest cuttlefish species after Sepia apama, growing to 50 cm in mantle length and 10 kg in weight.[3] Like many cephalopods, the broadclub can be seen displaying a range of colors and textures. Commonly they are light brown or yellowish with white mottled markings. Males are sometimes dark brown, particularly during courtship and mating. The arms have longitudinal white bands that appear as broad white blotches when extended. Some arms have longitudinal brown bands that extend to the head. The dorsal mantle can sometimes be seen with a saddle mark with small white and brown spots. The dorsal mantle also has narrow brown transverse bands, and bold, white, transverse stripes and spots. The eyes are yellow around the ventral margins and the fins are pale with white, transverse stripes extending onto mantle and narrow, white bands along outer margins.

It is known to prey on shrimp and prawns of the genus Palaemon.[4] They appear to mesmerize prey with their rhythmic colored bands.

Sepia latimanus colour change. These images were taken only seconds apart.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Norman, M.D. 2000. Cephalopods: A World Guide. ConchBooks.
  2. ↑ Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda
  3. ↑ Reid, A., P. Jereb, & C.F.E. Roper 2005. Family Sepiidae. In: P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 57–152.
  4. ↑ Boletzky S.v. & R.T. Hanlon. 1983. A Review of the Laboratory Maintenance, Rearing and Culture of Cephalopod Molluscs. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria: Proceedings of the Workshop on the Biology and Resource Potential of Cephalopods, Melbourne, Australia, 9-13 March, 1981, Roper, Clyde F.E., C.C. Lu &F.G. Hochberg, ed. 44: 147-187.

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