WHATSTHATFISH
Octopus & squid

Common Cuttlefish

Sepia officinalis

Also known as: Common Cuttle, European Common Cuttlefish, European Cuttlefish, Sepia., Sepia

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Lembeth Resort, Indonesia · June 20061 / 8
01

Overview

Found on mud and sandy areas, over shallow water reefs, but can be found in much deeper waters.

Cuttlefish possess the ability to swim in different manners, usually gently rippling their side fins. However when in danger, the cuttlefish sucks water into their body cavity and expels it through a funnel like extension on the underside of the body, causing a backward propulsion enabling the cuttlefish to escape from predators.
They are also able to shoot a cloud of black ink at predators when threatened.
They feed by catching their prey by two powerful tentacles which shoot out from beneath the creatures eyes. The prey is then pulled toward the animal's strong beak and crushed before consuming.
They gather in their hundreds of thousands to spawn.
Males can only produce once and the females die shortly after laying their eggs.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
stripes
Behaviour
inks

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 8
LIVES IN

Found on mud and sandy areas, over shallow water reefs, but can be found in much deeper waters.

04

Adult photos 8

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumMollusca
    3. classCephalopoda
    4. orderSepiida
    5. familySepiidae
    6. genusSepia
    7. speciesSepia officinalis Linnaeus, 1758

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Cuttlefishes (Sepiidae)