Bigfin Reef Squid

Scientific name: Sepioteuthis lessoniana
Similar species:
May be more than one species being treated under this name across tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans.
  • Author(s)
    Allison Runck
  • Updated
    29/09/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Bigfin Reef Squid Click to enlarge image
Sepioteuthis lessoniana is a large muscular squid found in shallow waters up to 100m depth. They are typically found on coral reefs and seagrass meadows, moving in to coral reefs particularly at night to feed Image: Merinda Turton
© Australian Museum: CC BY NC ND, Photographer: Merinda Turton, Date: 2019 (Australian Museum is the sole copyright owner and editing this image is not allowed)

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Sepioteuthis
    Species
    lessoniana
    Family
    Loliginidae
    Order
    Myopsida
    Superorder
    Decapodiformes
    Subclass
    Coleoidea
    Class
    Cephalopoda
    Phylum
    Mollusca
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Body to 40cm.
Bigfin Reef Squid
Bigfin Reef Squid
Bigfin Reef Squid

This species is popular for human consumption and is of importance to major fisheries throughout South-east Asia.

Identification

Pear-shaped fins extend the length of the body, the widest point being closer to the rear end of the body. Colour patterns include black bands to almost transparent, with a pair of iridescent transverse spots present on the mantle.

Habitat

Sepioteuthis lessoniana is a large muscular squid found in shallow waters up to 100m depth. They are typically found on coral reefs and seagrass meadows, moving in to coral reefs particularly at night to feed.

Distribution

Large distribution throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific from Hawaii to the Red Sea. Found in Northern Australian waters from northern NSW/Southern Queensland around to Shark Bay in Western Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

S. lessoniana is a voracious feeder, mainly on prawns and fish- but also on other crustaceans such as stomatopods and crabs.

Other behaviours and adaptations

This squid forms schools of similar-sized animals, possibly due to regular cannibalism between size classes. The spawning season is dependent on the oceanographic conditions and can be quite extended.

Breeding behaviours

Males perform elaborate courtship displays during breeding. Females lay jelly-like egg strings (3-7 eggs) enclosed in finger-shaped capsules on hard objects- including mangrove roots, twigs, stones and corals.

References

  • Norman, M., (2000) Cephalopods- A World Guide, ConchBooks, Germany (Hackenheim)
  • Norman, M & A. Reid., (2000) A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopuses of Australasia, CSIRO Publishing, Victoria (Collingwood)
  • Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney & C.E. Nauen, (1984) FAO species catalogue. Vol. 3. Cephalopods of the World: An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries, FAO Fish Synopsis, 125(3): 1-277.