Solitary Islands Underwater Research Group, Inc.

Sepia mestus (Gray, 1849)

Photographer: 
Bob Edgar
Date: 
Thu, 01/11/2012 (all day)
Location: 
N W Solitary Island
Photographer: 
Bob Edgar
Date: 
Mon, 01/04/2013 (all day)
Location: 
Nth Solitary Island
Photographer: 
Ian Shaw
Date: 
Sat, 21/01/2006 (all day)
Location: 
N W Solitary Island
Photographer: 
Ian Shaw
Date: 
Sun, 08/10/2017 (all day)
Location: 
Nth Solitary Island
Photographer: 
Ian Shaw
Date: 
Thu, 07/06/2018 (all day)
Location: 
Red Rock
Common Name: 
Reaper Cuttlefish
Distribution: 

Common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Endemic to Australia, it is found on the east coast from north Queensland to the New South Wales Victorian border.

Ecological Notes: 

Frequents larger estuaries and sheltered and moderately exposed reef, depth to at least 25 m.

Additional Notes: 

Characterised by a reddish colour, sometimes with a pair of dark blotches on the dorsal surface about halfway along the body. It has an orange eyesocket and shorter tentacles than its close relative, Sepia plangon, which occurs in the same geographic location. Feeds on small fish and invertebrates, grows to around 20 cm mantle length. Cuttlebone in lower photograph 10 cm long.

References: 

Graham J. Edgar. Australian Marine Life, 2nd Edition, 2008. Reed New Holland Publishers. p.367

Australian Museum: https://australianmuseum.net.au/reaper-cuttlefish-sepia-mestus-gray-1849

Mark Norman and Amanda Reid, A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopuses of Australasia, The Gould League of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, 2000. pp.27,87.