Sepia apama

Giant cuttle
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, Bass Strait, TAS, Photo: Graham Edgar
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, Sydney, NSW, Photo: Thierry Rakotoarivelo
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, Whyalla, SA, Photo: Graham Edgar
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, Port Arthur, TAS, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, 1 of 3. Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, 2 of 3. Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Sepia apama
Sepia apama, 3 of 3. Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
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Sepia apama
Sepia apama
Sepia apama
Sepia apama
Sepia apama
Sepia apama
Sepia apama
Sepia apama

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Most abundant and by far the largest local species of cuttlefish. The species can usually be recognised by the raised skin flaps, and it has three flat skin folds behind each eye. Mature animals are often curious to the point of aggressively approaching and confronting divers. The cuttlebone of this species is broad with a small spine and has a white-grey upper surface, in contrast to the pink of most other species.


Information

Max Size: 80 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 12.5-23.3°C

Depth: 0-100m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

Occurrence: Common (27.8% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Few (2 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney