Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sepia officinalis
- Common name
- Common cuttlefish
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Sepiidae
- Genus
- Sepia
- Size
- 20–49 cm
- Depth
- 0–200 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand, seagrass
- Behaviours
- solitary, predator
- Ocean zones
- Mediterranean, East Atlantic, Macaronesia
Description
Sepia officinalis reaches 49 cm mantle. Large cuttlefish (Sepiidae) Mediterranean, North Sea and temperate Atlantic. Flat oval body with extraordinary color changes (chromatophores) showing zebra patterns, undulations, spots and flashes within seconds depending on mood and environment. Calcareous internal bone (sepion) characteristic. 8 arms + 2 retractable tentacles. Defensive black ink. Lives from 0 to 200 m on sand, seagrass and rocky bottoms. Intelligent predator of small fish and crustaceans. Very important commercial fishery. Iconic wide-angle photo subject for color changes.
Photo of Common cuttlefish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Common cuttlefish?
- Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) reaches 20–49 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Common cuttlefish?
- Common cuttlefish is found between 0–200 m deep.
- Is the Common cuttlefish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Common cuttlefish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Common cuttlefish?
- Found in: Mediterranean, East Atlantic, Macaronesia.
Other species in the genus Sepia
- Sepia orbignyana - Pink cuttlefish
- Sepia latimanus - Bigfin Reef Squid
- Sepia pharaonis - Pharaoh Cuttlefish
Other species in the family Sepiidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 141444)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2290849)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia