Rudolf Svensen, Norwegen
Info
Sepietta oweniana (d'Orbigny, 1841)
Sepietta oweniana is a widespread species with a depth range that extends from the water surface to depths greater than 1,000 meters.
However, the common dwarf cuttlefish is most common on the continental shelf and on the upper slope of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea).
The cuttlefish prefers habitats with soft substrate (i.e., mud), in which it burrows during the day and emerges at night to feed on shrimp (e.g., Maganyctiphanes norvegica in the North Atlantic) and small decapod crustaceans (e.g., Pasiphaea sivado in the Mediterranean).
This species lacks a light organ.
In sexually mature males, the bases of the first pair of arms are connected, and the first left arm has enlarged suckers and a mating arm-like, spoon-shaped tip.
This species may make seasonal vertical migrations in pursuit of prey and makes migrations associated with reproduction in both the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In the Mediterranean, for example, sexually mature individuals migrate to shallow water in spring and summer to spawn.
Spawning appears to occur at the population level throughout the year, with seasonal peaks of activity. In the western Mediterranean, these peaks occur in spring and early summer, in the eastern Mediterranean during the summer in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and two peaks from April to May and October to November in the Aegean Sea.
The female lays her sparse eggs over a period of time in shallow water, but occasionally at depths of up to 200 meters.
Note: Eggs of the cuttlefish have also been landed from depths around 1,000 meters!
The gray eggs are attached to a variety of solid substrates, including sea squirts.
Embryonic development takes 30 days at 20ºC and two months at 10ºCelsius.
After hatching, rapid growth occurs that appears to be independent of temperature, and post-hatch life expectancy can range from six to nine months.
The small predatory cuttlefish is itself on the menu of a variety of fish species and is sometimes eaten by whales.
Sepietta owenianar has been successfully reared in aquaculture.
Synonymised names
Sepietta petersii (Steenstrup, 1887) · unaccepted (synonym)
Sepiola oweniana d'Orbigny, 1841 · unaccepted (original combination)
Sepiola petersi Steenstrup, 1887 · unaccepted (misspelling)
Sepiola petersii Steenstrup, 1887 · unaccepted (original combination)
Sepiola scandica Steenstrup, 1887 · unaccepted (synonym)
Sepietta oweniana is a widespread species with a depth range that extends from the water surface to depths greater than 1,000 meters.
However, the common dwarf cuttlefish is most common on the continental shelf and on the upper slope of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea).
The cuttlefish prefers habitats with soft substrate (i.e., mud), in which it burrows during the day and emerges at night to feed on shrimp (e.g., Maganyctiphanes norvegica in the North Atlantic) and small decapod crustaceans (e.g., Pasiphaea sivado in the Mediterranean).
This species lacks a light organ.
In sexually mature males, the bases of the first pair of arms are connected, and the first left arm has enlarged suckers and a mating arm-like, spoon-shaped tip.
This species may make seasonal vertical migrations in pursuit of prey and makes migrations associated with reproduction in both the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In the Mediterranean, for example, sexually mature individuals migrate to shallow water in spring and summer to spawn.
Spawning appears to occur at the population level throughout the year, with seasonal peaks of activity. In the western Mediterranean, these peaks occur in spring and early summer, in the eastern Mediterranean during the summer in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and two peaks from April to May and October to November in the Aegean Sea.
The female lays her sparse eggs over a period of time in shallow water, but occasionally at depths of up to 200 meters.
Note: Eggs of the cuttlefish have also been landed from depths around 1,000 meters!
The gray eggs are attached to a variety of solid substrates, including sea squirts.
Embryonic development takes 30 days at 20ºC and two months at 10ºCelsius.
After hatching, rapid growth occurs that appears to be independent of temperature, and post-hatch life expectancy can range from six to nine months.
The small predatory cuttlefish is itself on the menu of a variety of fish species and is sometimes eaten by whales.
Sepietta owenianar has been successfully reared in aquaculture.
Synonymised names
Sepietta petersii (Steenstrup, 1887) · unaccepted (synonym)
Sepiola oweniana d'Orbigny, 1841 · unaccepted (original combination)
Sepiola petersi Steenstrup, 1887 · unaccepted (misspelling)
Sepiola petersii Steenstrup, 1887 · unaccepted (original combination)
Sepiola scandica Steenstrup, 1887 · unaccepted (synonym)
