Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Sepia
    Species
    rozella
    Family
    Sepiidae
    Super Family
    Sepioidea
    Suborder
    Sepiina
    Order
    Sepiida
    Superorder
    Decapodiformes
    Subclass
    Coleoidea
    Class
    Cephalopoda
    Phylum
    Mollusca
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Body up to 20 cm in length

Identification

Sepia rozella is coloured purplish brown, with reddish purple dorsal ridges. Fins are pale and chromatophores are concentrated mainly around the eyes.
The cuttlebone is solid, elongate-oval, broadest in middle and rounded acuminate at both ends. Dorsal surface is rose coloured with three faint longitudinal ribs, the ventral surface with a deep median groove. It possesses a thick spine with ventral keel and ventral notch at its base.

Habitat

Sepia rozella is found at depths between 27-183m.

Distribution

The Rosecone Cuttlefish is found in the Southwestern Pacific or southeastern coastal waters of Australia, from southern Queensland to Tathra, NSW.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Economic impacts

This cuttlefish species is commonly trawled offshore from Sydney and brought into Sydney fish markets in large numbers.

References

  • Jereb, P., & C.F.E Roper (eds) (2005) Cephalopods of the World: Chambered Nautiluses and Sepioids, Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Catalogue for Fishery Purposes, Rome, No. 4, Vol. 1
  • Lu, C.C (1998) A Synopsis of Sepiidae in Australian waters (Cephalopoda: Sepiodiea). In: Voss, N.A., Vecchione, M., Toll, R.B. & Sweeney, M.J (Eds) Systematics and Biogeography of Cephalopods. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC, Vol. 586, 159-190.
  • Watson-Russell, C. (1983) Cuttlefish of Sydney Harbour, Australian Natural History, 20(5): 159-164.