Sepia mestus

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) to Murrays Beach off Jervis Bay (35°08′S 150°46′E). 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

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
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]
  • Ascarosepion verreauxi Rochebrune, 1884
  • Solitosepia liliana Iredale, 1926

S. 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

Cephalopods 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]

S. 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.

Mobility

S. 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]

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

Common predators and prey

Some common predators of S. mestus include bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and black seabass (Centropristis striata).[8]

Common prey of S. mestus and other cuttlefish include different species of shrimp, crab, and young fish.[9]

Anti-predator behaviour

Camoflauge is a distinctive feature of Cephalopods including S. mestus. Camouflage is achieved through changing of the animals colour and texture. Small organs in the skin allow called chromatophores allow for colour change. These chromatophores can be described as very small bags of dense pigment that can be expanded or contracted in which a spot of particular colour can be displayed.[6]

S. mestus and most other species of cuttlefish can alter skin texture to blend in with their environment. This is achieved by pushing up flaps of skin to match shapes of rock, coral, and seaweed. These flaps are known as papillae. Contracting rings of muscle around the base of these papillae allows for the flaps to rise, changing the appearance of the animal.[6]

S. 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.[10]

After spawning and brooding, male and female adults usually die shortly after.[10] 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.[11]

Dispersal of eggs

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]

Distribution

S. 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).[12]

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

Habitat

S. mestus lives in depths up to 22 m.[12] inhabitating a tropical climate[10]

S. mestus typically lives on rocky reefs and is typically seen under ledges (Norman 2003).[12]

Many of the worlds cuttlefish species are found in Australian waters, including S. mestus.[13]

Conservation status

It is considered of least concern.[12]

Threats

Increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere causes ocean acidification and is potentially a threat to all cuttlefish. According to studies, high CO2 concentrations, cuttlefishes tend to lay down a denser cuttlebone. This could negatively affect cuttlefish buoyancy regulation (Gutowska et al. 2010).[10]

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 February 2018.
  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. 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. Norman, Mark; Reid, Amanda (2000). Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopuses of Australasia. doi:10.1071/9780643101098. ISBN 9780643101098.
  7. Falkner, Inke; Turnbull, John (2019). Underwater Sydney. doi:10.1071/9781486311194. ISBN 9781486311194.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. "Sepia mestus, reaper cuttlefish". sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  11. "Cephalopod | class of mollusks". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  12. "Cuttlefish - Sepia mestus - Details - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  13. 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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