Cephalopod
Cuttlefish
Sepia officinalis
(VIId) Eastern English Channel, (VIIe) Western English Channel
Zones de pêche
Wild
Origine
15 cm - 19,4 cm
Taille minimale
Description
15 cm in North East Atlantic and 19,4 cm in Mediterranean.
It has an oval, flattened body (the mantle). Its most distinctive feature is the cuttlefish bone (sepion), a calcareous internal float that allows it to regulate its buoyancy. It has eight short arms equipped with suction cups and two long, retractable tentacles used to capture prey. Its skin is extremely complex, capable of instantly changing color and texture for camouflage. A "zebra-like" pattern is common, especially among males during the breeding season. The mantle can measure up to 45 cm, with a total weight of up to 4 kg. It is an active predator that feeds mainly on small fish and crustaceans (crabs, shrimp).
It has an oval, flattened body (the mantle). Its most distinctive feature is the cuttlefish bone (sepion), a calcareous internal float that allows it to regulate its buoyancy. It has eight short arms equipped with suction cups and two long, retractable tentacles used to capture prey. Its skin is extremely complex, capable of instantly changing color and texture for camouflage. A "zebra-like" pattern is common, especially among males during the breeding season. The mantle can measure up to 45 cm, with a total weight of up to 4 kg. It is an active predator that feeds mainly on small fish and crustaceans (crabs, shrimp).
Habitat
A demersal species (living near the seafloor) found on the continental shelf. It is generally found from the surface down to a depth of about 200 meters. It prefers sandy and muddy bottoms where it can burrow, but it also frequents Posidonia or eelgrass beds and rocky areas for spawning. It tolerates wide variations in salinity, allowing it to venture into estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Distribution
Its range covers mainly the eastern Atlantic and its adjacent seas, from northern Norway and the North Sea to southern Morocco. It is very abundant throughout the Mediterranean Sea. It is found around the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, sometimes extending as far as the Gulf of Guinea.