common cuttlefish
Also known as Sepia officinalis
species of mollusc
Species
Common cuttlefish
Species
- PhylumMollusca
- ClassCephalopoda
- OrderSepiida
- FamilySepiidae
Habitatmarine, brackish
Super fast color changes, mysterious eyes and a spectacular mating ritual. The cuttlefish is an unusual animal. It has a large internal shell as backbone, which serves for improving buoyancy as well as sturdiness. You often find these cuttlebones on the beach. They are sold in pet stores as a source of calcium for caged birds. Cuttlefish are easily frightened; it is difficult to display them in a Sea Aquarium. The common cuttlefish is very common in the North Sea, down to a depth of around 150 meters. In the spring, it migrates via the English Channel to coastal waters to reproduce.
via
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Sepia común (Sepia officinalis), Parque natural de la Arrábida, Portugal, 2020-07-21, DD 62.jpg
Sources (3)
Article
The common cuttlefish or European common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is one of the largest and best-known cuttlefish species. They are a migratory species that spend the summer and spring inshore for spawning and then move to depths of 100–200 metres (330–660 ft) during autumn and winter. They grow to 49 centimetres (19 in) in mantle length and 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) in weight. Animals from subtropical seas are smaller and rarely exceed 30 centimetres (12 in) in mantle length.
The common cuttlefish is native to at least the Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, and Baltic Sea, although subspecies have been proposed as far south as South Africa. It lives on sand and mud seabeds and it can tolerate brackish water conditions.