Sepia mestus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Sepiida
Family: Sepiidae
Genus: Sepia
Subgenus: Sepia
Species:
S. mestus
Binomial name
Sepia mestus
Gray, 1849[2]
Synonyms[2]

Sepia mestus, also known as the reaper cuttlefish or red cuttlefish,[3] is a species of cuttlefish native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean, specifically Escape Reef off Queensland (15°47′S 145°47′E / 15.783°S 145.783°E / -15.783; 145.783) to Murrays Beach off Jervis Bay (35°08′S 150°46′E / 35.133°S 150.767°E / -35.133; 150.767). Reports of this species from China and Vietnam are now known to be misidentifications. S. mestus lives at a depth of between 0 and 22 m.[4]

Sepia mestus exhibits sexual dimorphism. Females grow to a mantle length (ML) of 124 mm, while males do not exceed 77 mm ML.[4]

The type specimen was collected off the Australian coast and is deposited at The Natural History Museum in London.[5]

Anatomy

Cuttlefish generally share many similar anatomical structures and it can be hard to distinguish between different species in certain situations. All cephalopods have a similar basic anatomical plan. Structures include a set of limbs that diverge from the head in a ring around the mouth. Major body parts such as reproductive systems, digestive organs and the gills are contained in the mantle (a muscular bag) at the posterior portion of the animal.[6]

Cuttlefish including S. mestus differ from octopuses as they have an additional pair of limbs that octopuses lack. These limbs are known as feeding tentacles. These tentacles are found between arms three and four. The feeding tentacles are typically used for extended quickly to capture prey.[6] They are further differentiated by having a rigid body supported by a cuttlebone; this mantle is distinct, whereas in octopuses the head and mantle surface have fused together.

Sepia mestus is commonly referred to as the red cuttlefish. When undisturbed it is typically recognized by its red colouration and two dark spots on the posterior of the animal.[7]

A photo of Sepia mestus swimming.

Sepia mestus can see contrast between stripes in the what is called the polarizing drum.[8]

Mobility

Sepia mestus propels itself through the water using a technique that is seen in many cephalopods. Water is pushed through a cavity that is formed by the mantle. The animal ejects water from the mantle via a tubular funnel. This technique allows the animal to move through the environment using jet propulsion. A relaxed mantle allows for water to fill the mantle cavity. A contracted mantle forces water out through the tubular funnel. The funnel can be pointed in different directions allowing for movement forward and backward away from predators or towards prey.[6]

Ecology

Some common predators of S. mestus include bluefish, summer flounder, and black seabass.[9]

Common prey of S. mestus and other cuttlefish include different species of shrimp, crab, and young fish.[10]

A photo of summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), a common predator of S. mestus

Anti-predator behaviour

Camouflage is a distinctive feature of cephalopods, including S. mestus. Cephalopods can change their colour and texture instantaneously to avoid detection.

Small organs in the skin called chromatophores allow for colour change. These chromatophores are very small expandable bags of dense pigment in which a spot of particular colour can be displayed.[6]

Sepia mestus and most other species of cuttlefish can also alter skin texture to blend in with their environment. They push up specialized flaps of skin called papillae to match shapes of rock, coral, and seaweed. When a cuttlefish contracts the rings of muscle around the base of the papillae in different ways, the flaps rise accordingly, changing the appearance of the animal.[6]

Sepia mestus can also bury itself under the sand to avoid predators.[6]

Life cycle and mating behaviour

To attract a potential mate, a male will perform various displays to catch the attention of a female. Once a male is successful in attracting a mate, the male will insert the hectocotylus into the female’s mantle cavity to fertilize the female. The female will then lay her eggs nearby.[11] All cuttlefish, including S. mestus, disperse their eggs by attachment to the sea floor, usually on or under hard surfaces such as rock and coral.[6]

After spawning and brooding, male and female adults usually die shortly after.[11] Like most members of the class Cephalopoda, S. mestus are gonochoric. After the embryos develop for about two months, they will hatch and remain in a planktonic stage briefly before developing into adults.[12]

Distribution

Sepia mestus is endemic to Australia (Reid et al. 2005), ranging along the east coast from northern Queensland to Jervis Bay in New South Wales (Reid et al.2005).[13]

The Great barrier reef off the coast of north eastern Australia is a common habitat of Sepia mestus.

Habitat

Sepia mestus lives in depths up to 22 m.[13] inhabiting a tropical climate[11]

Sepia mestus typically lives on rocky reefs and is typically seen under ledges (Norman 2003).[13]

Many of the world's cuttlefish species are found in Australian waters, including S. mestus.[14]

Conservation status

It is considered of least concern.[13]

Threats

Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause ocean acidification and are potentially a threat to all cuttlefish species. In high CO2 concentrations, cuttlefishes tend to lay down a denser cuttlebone, which could impair cuttlefish buoyancy regulation (Gutowska et al. 2010).[11]

References

  1. ↑ Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2012). "Sepia mestus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T162642A934873. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T162642A934873.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Julian Finn (2016). "Sepia mestus Gray, 1849". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Reaper Cuttlefish - Whats That Fish!". www.whatsthatfish.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. ↑ Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Norman, Mark; Reid, Amanda (2000). Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopuses of Australasia. doi:10.1071/9780643101098. ISBN 9780643101098. S2CID 82485615.
  7. ↑ Falkner, Inke; Turnbull, John (2019). Underwater Sydney. doi:10.1071/9781486311194. ISBN 9781486311194. S2CID 239189723.
  8. ↑ Talbot, Christopher; Marshall, Justin (2010). "Polarization sensitivity in two species of cuttlefish – Sepia plangon (Gray 1849) and Sepia mestus (Gray 1849) – demonstrated with polarized optomotor stimuli". Journal of Experimental Biology. 213 (19): 3364–3370. doi:10.1242/jeb.042937. PMID 20833930. S2CID 11048132.
  9. ↑ Staudinger, Michelle D.; Buresch, Kendra C.; Mäthger, Lydia M.; Fry, Charlie; McAnulty, Sarah; Ulmer, Kimberly M.; Hanlon, Roger T. (December 2013). "Defensive Responses of Cuttlefish to Different Teleost Predators". The Biological Bulletin. 225 (3): 161–174. doi:10.1086/bblv225n3p161. hdl:1912/6401. ISSN 0006-3185. PMID 24445442. S2CID 8828514.
  10. ↑ Darmaillacq, Anne-Sophie; Chichery, Raymond; Poirier, Roseline; Dickel, Ludovic (2004). "Effect of early feeding experience on subsequent prey preference by cuttlefish,Sepia officinalis". Developmental Psychobiology. 45 (4): 239–244. doi:10.1002/dev.20034. ISSN 0012-1630. PMID 15549683.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Sepia mestus, reaper cuttlefish". sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  12. ↑ "Cephalopod | class of mollusks". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Cuttlefish - Sepia mestus - Details - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  14. ↑ Reid, Amanda Louise. (2005). A new cuttlefish, Sepia filibrachia n. sp., from the South China Sea with a redescription of Sepia mestus Gray, 1849 (Cephalopoda:Sepiidae) from eastern Australia. Magnolia Press. OCLC 70894098.
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