Sepia (Sepia)

Lore & Background

All members of Sepia possess eight arms and two tentacles. Tentacles are retractable limbs used to target and latch onto prey, whereas arms are used for handling prey and producing patterns of light and dark to distract prey. Once a prey item has been caught, the tentacles detach from it and have no other function. The tentacles reside in sheaths that run below the eyes and behind the head, into the visceral mass, where they are reserved as coiled, spring-loaded appendages, waiting to be ejected towards a food target.

A 2023 paper extensively revised the composition of genus Sepia; as a consequence, many species have been split out of genus Sepia, assigned to revived genera or elevated subgenera. Currently, the genus has 58 species, according to WoRMS. A number of these species need further verification. A list of species includes those marked with an asterisk (*) that were examined in the 2023 paper.

A number of extinct species have been described from the Neogene of Europe, though many of these are likely synonyms. They include Sepia bertii, Sepia complanata, Sepia craversii, Sepia gastaldii, Sepia granosa, Sepia harmati, Sepia hungarica, Sepia isseli, Sepia michelotti, Sepia rugulosa, Sepia stricta, Sepia verrucosa, and Sepia vindobonensis.

Reader's Guide

The genus Sepia is notable for encompassing some of the best known and most common cuttlefish species. Its name derives from the Ancient Greek word for cuttlefish, and its members are characterized by an ellipsoid cuttlebone. The anatomy of Sepia includes eight arms and two retractable tentacles, which are used in a specialized hunting strategy: tentacles spring from sheaths to latch onto prey, then detach, leaving the arms to handle the catch and produce distracting light patterns. The genus underwent a major revision in a 2023 paper, which split many species into revived genera or elevated subgenera, leaving 58 currently recognized species according to WoRMS, though some require further verification. Additionally, a number of extinct species from the Neogene of Europe have been described, but many are considered likely synonyms. This taxonomic history highlights ongoing scientific refinement of the group's classification.

Did You Know?

• The name Sepia is the Latinised form of the Ancient Greek σηπία (sēpía) meaning 'cuttlefish'.
• All members of Sepia have eight arms and two retractable tentacles that detach after catching prey.
• A 2023 paper extensively revised the genus, splitting many species into revived genera or elevated subgenera.