WHATSTHATFISH
Octopus & squid

Reaper Cuttlefish

Ascarosepion mestus

Also known as: Common New South Wales Cuttlefish, Red Cuttlefish, Sepia mestus

Adult
@greatwhite · Madang Resort Hotel, Papua New Guinea · May 20121 / 4
01

Overview

Found in kelp beds, over rock, sand and seagrass beds, around drop-offs and in harbours of coral and rocky reefs. Colour/pattern can changes for camouflage.
Depth 0-22m
Pacific Ocean - Australia

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
blotches

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Pacific Ocean
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found in kelp beds, over rock, sand and seagrass beds, around drop-offs and in harbours of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 4

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. genusAscarosepion
    7. speciesAscarosepion mestus (J. E. Gray, 1849)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Cuttlefishes (Sepiidae)