WHATSTHATFISH
Octopus & squid

Long-finned Squid

Sepioteuthis lessoniana

Also known as: Bigfin Reef Squid, Calamari Squid, Common Pelagic Squid, Cuttlefish, Glitter Squid, Indo-Pacific Squid, Loliginid Squid, Northern Calamari, Oval Squid, Pacific Reef Squid, Tropical Squid

Adult
@fishx6 · Lembeth Resort, Indonesia · June 20061 / 93

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found singly or in squads, during the day in warm shallow coastal waters, hovering close to estuaries, rock reefs, and seaweed reefs, moving to deeper waters at night hunting for food.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans, fish, and molluscs.

These squid are sometimes mistaken for cuttlefish due to the large fin that surrounds their mantle.
Commonly seen at night and can be inquisitive of divers, however if approached they can swim backwards at great speed producing a jet of water from the funnel in the front. Their fins are used for turning.
This species is known for its elaborate courtship displays and size sorted schooling behaviour.

In some pictures can be seen the nursery of squid eggs hanging on lines like washing drying! All in sausage shaped bundles, when the squid hatch they will be as tiny as a grain of rice.

02

How to identify

Pattern
stripes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Indo-Pacific, Mediterranean
  • Exact location · 10
  • Country only · 83
LIVES IN

Found singly or in squads, during the day in warm shallow coastal waters, hovering close to estuaries, rock reefs, and seaweed reefs, moving to deeper waters at night hunting for food.

04

Adult photos 93

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumMollusca
    3. classCephalopoda
    4. orderMyopsida
    5. familyLoliginidae
    6. genusSepioteuthis
    7. speciesSepioteuthis lessoniana R. P. Lesson, 1831

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Myopsida