Golden Cuttlefish
Acanthosepion esculentum
Also known as: Common Cuttlefish, Ovalbone Cuttlefish, Sepia esculenta
- Common Cuttlefish
- Ovalbone Cuttlefish
- Sepia esculenta
Overview
Found single, on sand and in seagrass beds, over coral and rocky reefs. Colour changes to match surroundings.
Depth 2-30m
Widespread West Pacific
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.
Cuttlefish gather in their hundreds of thousands to spawn.
Males can only produce once and the females die shortly after laying their eggs.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Western Pacific
- Country only · 4
Found single, on sand and in seagrass beds, over coral and rocky reefs.
Adult photos 4
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumMollusca
- classCephalopoda
- orderSepiida
- familySepiidae
- genusAcanthosepion
- speciesAcanthosepion esculentum (Hoyle, 1885)
SourcesWoRMS
More in the family
Cuttlefishes (Sepiidae)

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