WHATSTHATFISH
Octopus & squid

Needle Cuttlefish

Acanthosepion aculeatum

Also known as: Cephalopod, Large Striped Cuttlefish, Sepia aculeata

Adult
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Overview

Found over shallow to deep waters, on sandy bottoms, of coral reefs. Colourful displays to match surroundings, and deter predators.

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.

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How to identify

Pattern
speckled
Body shape
skin tags

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
LIVES IN

Found over shallow to deep waters, on sandy bottoms, of coral reefs.

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Adult photos 0

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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. genusAcanthosepion
    7. speciesAcanthosepion aculeatum (A. d'Orbigny, 1835)

    SourcesWoRMSSeaLifeBase

    06

    More in the family

    Cuttlefishes (Sepiidae)