Pharaoh cuttlefish
| Pharaoh cuttlefish | |
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| File:Sepiapharaonis.jpg | |
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S. pharaonis
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| Sepia pharaonis Ehrenberg, 1831
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The pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) is a large cuttlefish species, growing to 42 cm in mantle length and 5 kg in weight.[1] When raised in the laboratory, the maximum recorded size for males is 16.2 cm, and for females 15.5 cm.[2]
Sepia pharaonis is likely a complex of at least three species, the distributions of which are not well understood.
The type specimen was collected in the Gulf of Suez and is deposited at the Zoologisches Museum in Berlin.[3]
Ecology
The pharaoh cuttlefish is native to at least the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.[4] Of all the cuttlefish species in the Persian Gulf, it is the most commonly caught. Inhabiting the neritic zone, it is often found in depths up to 130 m.[2] When hunting at night, it swims up to shallower parts of the sea to feast on a variety of smaller fish, crabs, and occasionally other cuttlefish.[5]
Spawning times vary depending on its habitat. Near Hong Kong, it mates during Spring, from March to May. In the Red Sea area, it takes place from August to October.[5] After mating, the female deposits her eggs near the coast, between depths of 5 and 20 m.[2]
Human uses
It is a commonly fished species of cuttlefish in the Philippines, as well as the most economically important cuttlefish in the northern Indian Ocean. Off the coast of Australia, 90% of the cuttlefish caught are S. pharaonis.[2] It is often eaten by humans in these areas.
See also
References
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- ↑ Reid, A., P. Jereb, & C.F.E. Roper 2005. Family Sepiidae. In: P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 57–152.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda.
- ↑ Norman, M.D. 2000. Cephalopods: A World Guide. ConchBooks.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
