Sepia mestus

Sepiidae
Reaper Cuttlefish, Reaper Cuttlefish
  • Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Sepia mestus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Sepia mestus, NSW, Australia, Photo: Tom Davis
    Sepia mestus, NSW, Australia, Photo: Tom Davis
  • Sepia mestus, Sydney, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Sepia mestus, Sydney, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Although the red cuttle has often been seen by divers, its specific identity remained unknown until recently. Sepia mestus characteristically has a red body with dark blotches towards the back of the upper surface and yellow colouration around the eye. It is moderately common in estuaries and along the open coast of NSW.
Information
  • Max Size: 20 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 15.5-26.2°C
  • Depth: 1-300m
  • Habitat: Rocky Reef, Seagrass, Soft sediment
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
  • Occurrence: Common (21% 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: Solitary (1 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
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