# Common cuttlefish

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Species of cephalopod

This article is about the European common cuttlefish. For the South African common cuttlefish, see [Sepia vermiculata](/source/Sepia_vermiculata).

Common cuttlefish Common cuttlefish in Arrábida Natural Park, Portugal Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopoda Order: Sepiida Family: Sepiidae Genus: Sepia Subgenus: Sepia Species: S. officinalis Binomial name Sepia officinalis Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Sepia rugosa Bowdich, 1822 Sepia vicellius Gray, 1849 Sepia zebrina Risso, 1854 Sepia filliouxi Lafont, 1869 ?Sepia fischeri Lafont, 1871 Sepia officinalis mediterranea Ninni, 1884 ?Sepia veranyi P. Fischer in Lagatu, 1888

The **common cuttlefish** or **European common cuttlefish** (*Sepia officinalis*) is one of the largest and best-known [cuttlefish](/source/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.[2] They grow to 49 centimetres (19 in) in [mantle](/source/Mantle_(mollusc)) length and 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) in weight.[3] Animals from subtropical seas are smaller and rarely exceed 30 centimetres (12 in) in mantle length.[4]

The common cuttlefish is native to at least the [Mediterranean Sea](/source/Mediterranean_Sea), [North Sea](/source/North_Sea), and [Baltic Sea](/source/Baltic_Sea), although subspecies have been proposed as far south as [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). It lives on sand and mud seabeds and it can tolerate brackish water conditions.[5][6]

## Taxonomy

It is unknown where the [type specimen](/source/Type_specimen) of *S. officinalis* was collected, as the location is given simply as "Oceano". It is deposited in the [Linnean Society of London](/source/Linnean_Society_of_London).[7]

*Sepia officinalis jurujubai* Oliveira, 1940, originally described as a [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) of the common cuttlefish, is a [junior synonym](/source/Junior_synonym) of *[Sepioteuthis sepioidea](/source/Sepioteuthis_sepioidea)*.[8]

## Description

The [cuttlebone](/source/Cuttlebone) of a cuttlefish. This is the largest [hard part](/source/Biomineralization) of a cuttlefish, maintaining the rigidity of its body.

The common cuttlefish is one of the largest species of cuttlefish with a [mantle length](/source/Mantle_length) reaching up to 45 cm (18 in) and a [mass](/source/Mass) of 4 kg (8.8 lb) on a presumed male, although this is for an exceptional specimen in temperate waters; specimens in subtropical waters rarely surpass a mantle length of 30 cm (12 in) and 2 kg (4.4 lb) in mass. The mantle houses the reproductive and digestive tracts of the cuttlefish and is also home to an internal shell called the [cuttlebone](/source/Cuttlebone), located on the [dorsal side](/source/Dorsal_side) of the animal.[2] The common cuttlefish has two highly developed eyes, eight arms which are located around the mouth and are used to hold and manipulate prey, two specialized [feeding tentacles](/source/Tentacle) which are used to [ambush](/source/Ambush_predator) prey, and a [beak](/source/Cephalopod_beak) housing a [radula](/source/Radula) used in [breaking down and consuming](/source/Eating) their (often armored) prey.[9] Cuttlefish move by undulating fins on the periphery of their mantle, but when startled they often jet away using a [siphon](/source/Siphon_(mollusc)), [inking in the process](/source/Cephalopod_ink).

Cuttlefish are well known for their unmatched [camouflaging](/source/Camouflage) abilities which are possible due a variety of specialized cells; pigmented [chromatophore](/source/Chromatophore) organs, light scattering leucophores, and structurally reflecting iridophores in their [skin](/source/Skin) work in concert to conceal the cuttlefish in its environment.[10] They not only are able to swiftly change their colour and patterns, but can also use peripheral [muscles](/source/Muscles) to change the [texture](/source/Surface_texture) of their skin. Their camouflaging abilities are categorized into four main types including mottle, stipple, uniform, and disruptive.[11] Cuttlefish possess these camouflaging abilities from before hatching; a cuttlefish can visibly manipulate its chromatophores from within its clear-membraned egg.[12]

## Ecology

The common cuttlefish is [shallow water](/source/Shallow_water_marine_environment) [demersal](/source/Demersal_zone), [ambush-hunting](/source/Ambush_predator) [coleoid](/source/Coleoidea).

### Diet

During the day, most cuttlefish can be found buried below the substrate and fairly inactive. At night however, they are actively searching for prey and can ambush them from under the substrate.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Cuttlefish are carnivorous and eat a variety of organisms including crustaceans ([crabs](/source/Crab) and [shrimp](/source/Shrimp)), small demersal fish, molluscs ([clams](/source/Clam) and [snails](/source/Sea_snail)), and sometimes [other cuttlefish](/source/Cannibalism) which is more commonly seen when the abundance of other prey is low.[9]

A 2008 study on *S. officinalis*[13] revealed that cuttlefish embryos, if visually exposed to a certain species of prey (e.g. [crabs](/source/Crab)), will hunt primarily for that prey in later life. *S. officinalis* usually prefer shrimp to crabs, but when the embryos were exposed to crabs and the embryos had hatched, the young cuttlefish switched preferences and proceeded to hunt the crabs more often than the shrimp.[14]

### Life history

The male cuttlefish (right) solicits the female for [mating](/source/Reproduction).

Cuttlefish reach sexual maturity between 14 and 18 months of age. During breeding season, which occurs during spring, summer, and sometimes early autumn, large gatherings of male cuttlefish will [display](/source/Courtship_display) a highly [contrasting](/source/Complementary_colors) black and white [zebra pattern](/source/Stripe_(pattern)) on their mantle to attract females and females will display a uniform grey colour to indicate they are ready to mate. Cuttlefish males carry up to 1400 [spermatophores](/source/Spermatophore) to the female and the female carries between 150 and 4000 eggs depending on her body mass. The female attaches the egg mass to seaweed, shells, or other substrates to prevent it from drifting away; the eggs incubate for 30 or 90 days, depending on temperature, until they hatch into miniature versions of the adults. Cuttlefish live up to 2 years of age; a [large number of them die after spawning](/source/Semelparity_and_iteroparity#Semelparity).[2][1][15]

Camouflaged common cuttlefish

Cuttlefish have many predators including [sharks](/source/Shark), coastal [dolphins](/source/Dolphin), [seals](/source/Mediterranean_monk_seal), large fish such as [sparids](/source/Sparidae), and [cephalopods](/source/Cephalopod) which includes [other cuttlefish](/source/Cannibalism). They have a number of [anti-predator adaptations](/source/Anti-predator_adaptation); their primary means is camouflage, sitting concealed while a predator passes them by. If located, a cuttlefish will jet away using its siphon, and will often ink; a cuttlefish has a [variety of ink types that it can use depending on its situation.](/source/Cephalopod_ink#Inking_behaviours)[9][16][1][15]

The egg masses of the common cuttlefish are also attacked and consumed by predators; an experiment determined that a variety of marine invertebrates, including the [murex sea snails](/source/Bolinus_brandaris), [european lobster](/source/Homarus_gammarus), [rock crabs](/source/Cancer_pagurus), [sea urchins](/source/Sea_urchin), *[Squilla mantis](/source/Squilla_mantis)*, and [sea stars](/source/Astropecten_aranciacus) ate common cuttlefish egg masses.[17]

## Uses

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[Linguine](/source/Linguine) dyed with cuttlefish ink

*Sepia officinalis* is a species that is commonly fished in the Mediterranean, including countries like Greece and Spain. Although it is fished extensively and wild stocks in some regions are close to being over-exploited, population numbers are not declining and the species is of Least Concern on the list of threatened species.[1] Cuttlefish in general have many uses, thus they have a large commercial value. *Sepia officinalis* is a popular food item in its native range, and mediterranean languages have numerous names for cuttlefish.[15][18] The mantle is the main cut eaten; it is processed into a multitude of dishes after the cuttlebone and guts are removed. The head including the tentacles are also processed into a variety of dishes; the [buccal mass](/source/Cephalopod#Feeding) including the beak are often removed beforehand.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

[Cuttlefish ink](/source/Cephalopod_ink) is believed to have many beneficial health effects including [anti-inflammatory](/source/Anti-inflammatory), [anti-oxidant](/source/Antioxidant), [antimicrobial](/source/Antimicrobial), [anti-hypertensive](/source/Anti-hypertensive), [anti-retroviral](/source/Anti-retroviral), and potential [anticancer](/source/Anticancer) properties.[19] The ink itself is an [ingredient in food, staining the dish to a deep black coloration](/source/Cephalopod_ink#Use_by_humans). Another common use for cuttlefish ink is as a pigment; the color [sepia](/source/Sepia_(color)) is named after the common cuttlefish, and it is extracted from its ink sac.[19]

Cuttlebones are commonly sold for [pet](/source/Pet) [parrots](/source/Parrot#Pets) because they provide a good source of calcium, help keep a bird's beak trimmed, improve jaw strength, and provide entertainment for the bird.[20] Some reptile species may also take cuttlebones for calcium and enrichment.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## See also

- [Cuttlebone](/source/Cuttlebone)

- [Cephalopod size](/source/Cephalopod_size)

- [European squid](/source/European_squid)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_12_November_2021_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_12_November_2021_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_12_November_2021_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_12_November_2021_1-3) Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2012). ["*Sepia officinalis*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/162664/939991). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2012** e.T162664A939991. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T162664A939991.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T162664A939991.en). Retrieved 12 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) Compton, A; Wiley, L. ["*Sepia officinalis*"](http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sepia_officinalis/). *Animal Diversity Web*. Retrieved 20 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Reid, A., P. Jereb, & C.F.E. Roper (2005). "Family Sepiidae". In P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. [*Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae)*](https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en?details=bab682f4-2346-5bf1-89d7-94f276279a36/). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 57–152.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Roper C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney & C.E. Nauen (1984). [*Cephalopods of the world*](https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en?details=6d398e2d-abf1-57f1-91d5-664b06874ee6). Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy. Vol. 3, p. 277.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Helmut Debelius (1994). [*Marine Atlas: The Joint Aquarium Care of Invertebrates and Tropical Marine Fishes*](https://books.google.com/books?id=V7cXAQAAIAAJ). Vol. 3. Mergus. p. 798. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-88244-055-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-88244-055-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Ecology Summary - *Sepia officinalis*"](https://www.sealifebase.ca/Ecology/FishEcologySummary.php?StockCode=3953&GenusName=Sepia&SpeciesName=officinalis). *sealifebase.ca*. Retrieved 10 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda](http://www.mnh.si.edu/cephs/newclass.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Adam, W. & W.J. Rees. 1966. A Review of the Cephalopod Family Sepiidae. *John Murray Expedition 1933–34, Scientific Reports* **11**(1): 1–165, 46 plates.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_9-2) ["*Sepia officinalis*, The Common Cuttlefish – The Cephalopod Page"](http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/Soffic.php). *www.thecephalopodpage.org*. Retrieved 2018-03-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Mäthger, L.M.; Chiao, C.C.; Barbosa, A.; Hanlon, R.T. (March 2008). "Color matching on natural substrates in cuttlefish, *Sepia officinalis*". *Journal of Comparative Physiology*. **194** (6): 577–585. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s00359-008-0332-4](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00359-008-0332-4). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [18414874](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18414874). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [25111630](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:25111630).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Kelman, E.J.; Baddeley, R.J.; Shohet, A.J.; Osorio, D. (2007). ["Perception of visual texture and the expression of disruptive camouflage by the cuttlefish, *Sepia officinalis*"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2176201). *Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences*. **274** (1616): 1369–1375. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1098/rspb.2007.0240](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frspb.2007.0240). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [2176201](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2176201). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [17389219](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17389219).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Hanlon, R.T.; Messenger, J.B. (1988). ["Adaptive coloration in young cuttlefish (*Sepia officinalis* L.): The morphology and development of body patterns and their relation to behaviour"](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frstb.1988.0087). *Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B*. **320** (1200): 437–487. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1988RSPTB.320..437H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988RSPTB.320..437H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1098/rstb.1988.0087](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frstb.1988.0087).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Darmaillacq, Anne-Sophie; Lesimple, Clemence; Dickel, Ludovic (2008). "Embryonic visual learning in the cuttlefish, *Sepia officinalis*". *Animal Behaviour*. **76**: 131–134. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.02.006](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.anbehav.2008.02.006). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [53147763](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:53147763).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Walker, M. (June 5, 2008). [Cuttlefish spot target prey early](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7435757.stm). *BBC News*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fao_2711_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fao_2711_15-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-fao_2711_15-2) ["Species Fact Sheets *Sepia officinalis* (Linnaeus, 1758)"](https://www.fao.org/figis/pdf/fishery/species/2711/en?title=FAO%20Fisheries%20%26amp%3B%20Aquaculture%20-%20Aquatic%20species). *Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations*. Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Sepia officinalis"](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sepia_officinalis/#c4e047f586c3ecc3cd561d198628b482). *Animal Diversity Web*. Retrieved 2018-03-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Martins_17-0)** Martins, Catarina P.P.; Fernández-Álvarez, Fernando Á.; Villanueva, Roger (2018). "Invertebrate predation on egg masses of the European cuttlefish, *Sepia officinalis*: An experimental approach". *Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science*. **200**: 437–448. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018ECSS..200..437M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018ECSS..200..437M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.ecss.2017.11.016](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ecss.2017.11.016). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10261/130843](https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F130843).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Sykes, A.V; Oliveira, A.R; Domingues, P.M; Cardoso, C.M; Andrade, J.P; Nunes, M.L (2009). "Assessment of European cuttlefish (*Sepia officinalis*, L.) nutritional value and freshness under ice storage using a developed Quality Index Method (QIM) and biochemical methods". *LWT – Food Science and Technology*. **42**: 424–432. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.lwt.2008.05.010](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.lwt.2008.05.010).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_19-1) Derby, Charles D. (2014-05-12). ["Cephalopod Ink: Production, Chemistry, Functions and Applications"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4052311). *Marine Drugs*. **12** (5): 2700–2730. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3390/md12052700](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fmd12052700). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [4052311](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4052311). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [24824020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24824020).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Sund, P (2017). ["Does My Bird Really Need a Cuttlebone?"](https://www.thespruce.com/does-bird-really-need-cuttlebone-3893344). *The Spruce*.

## Further reading

- Fluckiger, M.; Jackson, G. D.; Nichols, P.; Virtue, P.; Daw, A.; Wotherspoon, S. (2008). "An experimental study of the effect of diet on the fatty acid profiles of the European Cuttlefish (*Sepia officinalis*)". *[Mar. Biol.](/source/Marine_Biology_(journal))* **154** (2): 363–372. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008MarBi.154..363F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008MarBi.154..363F). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s00227-008-0932-0](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00227-008-0932-0). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [85069548](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:85069548).

- Hanlon, R. T.; Messenger, J. B. (1988). ["Adaptive Coloration in Young Cuttlefish (*Sepia officinalis* L.): The Morphology and Development of Body Patterns and Their Relation to Behaviour"](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frstb.1988.0087). *[Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B](/source/Philosophical_Transactions_of_the_Royal_Society_B)*. **320** (1200): 437–487. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1988RSPTB.320..437H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988RSPTB.320..437H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1098/rstb.1988.0087](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frstb.1988.0087). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [2396667](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2396667).

- Gibson-Hall, E.; Wilson, E. (2018). ["Common Cuttlefish (*Sepia officinalis*)"](https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1098). *Marine Life Information Network*.

## External links

- ["CephBase: Common cuttlefish"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050817053958/https://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/spdb/speciesc.cfm?CephID=9). Archived from [the original](https://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/spdb/speciesc.cfm?CephID=9) on 2005-08-17.

- [Taxa Associated with the Family Sepiidae Keferstein, 1866](http://www.tolweb.org/accessory/Sepiidae_Taxa?acc_id=2321)

- Photos of [Common cuttlefish](https://sealifecollection.org/taxon/141444) in the Sealife Collection

Taxon identifiers Sepia officinalis Wikidata: Q756724 Wikispecies: Sepia (Sepia) officinalis ADW: Sepia_officinalis BOLD: 26029 CoL: 6YGHL EoL: 448836 EUNIS: 61444 GBIF: 2290849 iNaturalist: 151429 IRMNG: 11188821 ITIS: 82363 IUCN: 162664 NBN: NHMSYS0021055231 NCBI: 6610 Observation.org: 16701 OBIS: 141444 Open Tree of Life: 528817 SeaLifeBase: 57474 WoRMS: 141444 ZooBank: E4155389-B2CC-494B-AC11-6A8EDF3C5BE4

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