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Genus of cephalopods From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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".
| Sepia Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific 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 | |
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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.
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.
A number of extinct species have been described from the Neogene of Europe, though many of these are likely synonyms.[4] They include:[4]
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