Cuttlefish

Common Family Name

Cuttlefish

Alias

Inkfish

Scientific Name

Sepiida

Size

Up to 1 m.

Identification

Rounded oval bodies with fin along the full length of the body. Eight arms and two feeding tentacles. Large ‘W’-shaped pupils. Colouration varies and is used as camouflage.

General Info

Sepiida order falls under the class Cephalopoda which includes octopus, squid and nautilus. Often confused with squids (which don’t have the ‘W’ pupil and are smaller). Possessing an internal bone called the cuttlebone which is used for buoyancy control. Move fast through the water. Use ink as a defence mechanism. Reproduction by eggs which are laid under ledges or coral heads.

Feeding

Feeds on fish and crustaceans.

Distribution

Occurs in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world.

Common Species

Giant cuttlefish - Sepia apama
Mourning cuttlefish - Sepia plangon
Needle cuttlefish - Sepia aculeata