Sepia is a genus of cuttlefish in the family Sepiidae encompassing some of the best known and most common species. The cuttlebone is ellipsoid in shape. The name of the genus is the Latinised form of the Ancient Greek σηπία (sēpía) "cuttlefish".

Parts of a sepia

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Type species ...
Sepia
Temporal range: Miocene – Recent[1][2]
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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Sepiida
Family: Sepiidae
Genus: Sepia
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Sepia rugosa
Bowdich, 1822
Subgenera

Acanthosepion Rochebrune, 1884
Anomalosepia Khromov, 1987
Doratosepion Rochebrune, 1884
Hemisepius Steenstrup, 1875
Rhombosepion Rochebrune, 1884
Sepia Linnaeus, 1758

Close
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Sepia apama
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Sepia elegans
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Sepia latimanus
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Sepia officinalis
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Sepia pharaonis
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Sepia prashadi
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Sepia spp.

Anatomy

All members of Sepia share the presence of eight arms and two tentacles. Tentacles are retractable limbs used to target and latch onto prey, whereas arms are used for handling prey and producing patterns of light and dark to distract prey. Once a prey item has been caught, the tentacles detach from it and have no other function. The tentacles reside in sheaths that run below the eyes and behind the head, into the visceral mass, where they are reserved as coiled, spring-loaded appendages, waiting to be ejected towards a food target.

Classification

The species listed above with an asterisk (*) are questionable; they need further study to determine if they are a valid species or a synonym. The question mark (?) indicates questionable placement within the genus.

Extinct species

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Fossil cuttlebone of the Pliocene species Sepia rugulosa
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Fossil cuttlebone of Sepia stricta

A number of extinct species have been described from the Neogene of Europe, though many of these are likely synonyms.[4] They include:[4]

  • Sepia bertii Foresti, 1890
  • Sepia complanata Bellardi, 1872
  • Sepia craversii Gastaldi, 1868
  • Sepia gastaldii Bellardi, 1872
  • Sepia granosa Bellardi, 1872
  • Sepia harmati Szörenyi, 1933
  • Sepia hungarica Lörenthey, 1898
  • Sepia isseli Bellardi, 1872
  • Sepia michelotti Gastaldi, 1868
  • Sepia rugulosa Bellardi, 1872
  • Sepia stricta Bellardi, 1872
  • Sepia verrucosa Bellardi, 1872
  • Sepia vindobonensis Schloenbach, 1869

References

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