Sepiella ornata
Ornate cuttlefish with reddish spots, found off West Africa.
The ornate cuttlefish, *Sepiella ornata*, was first scientifically described by Sander Rang in 1837 from a specimen collected in the Gulf of Guinea. This species reaches a mantle length of up to 100 millimeters and a total body length of up to 100 centimeters. The number of suckers on each club ranges from 10 to 14, with males having 10 to 12 and females 12 to 14. A series of reddish or wine-colored spots runs along the dorsal fins.
Found in the eastern Atlantic along the west coast of Africa, its range extends from Cape Blanco in Mauritania to Cape Frio in Namibia. It occurs in the waters of Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and rarely Namibia. This demersal species lives at depths between 20 and 150 meters, typically below 30 meters, and is most abundant deeper than 50 meters. It is usually located 13 to 16 kilometers offshore, primarily on muddy or sandy mud bottoms, as documented by Guerra, Gonzalez, Roeleveld, and Jereb.
The species produces large eggs. According to Rocha and Cheikh, *Sepiella ornata* holds potential interest for fisheries. As of 2014, it was mostly taken as bycatch in bottom trawls.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Sepiella
- Species
- ornata
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Sepiella ornata was first described by Sander Rang in 1837 from a specimen caught in the Gulf of Guinea. The species has a mantle length of up to 100 millimeters and a total body length of up to 100 centimeters. It possesses 10 to 14 suckers on each club, with males having 10 to 12 and females 12 to 14. A series of spots along the dorsal fins is described as either reddish or wine-colored.
The species is demersal and found in the east Atlantic along the west coast of Africa, from Cape Blanco in Mauritania to Cape Frio in Namibia. It occurs in Ghana, Namibia (though rarely), Mauritania, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea. Its depth range is 20 to 150 meters, though it is usually found below 30 meters and is most abundant below 50 meters. It is typically located between 13 and 16 kilometers offshore, mostly on muddy or sandy mud bottoms according to Guerra, Gonzalez, Roeleveld, and Jereb.
Reproduction involves large eggs. As of 2014, the species was mostly caught as bycatch in bottom trawls and is considered of potential interest to fisheries according to Rocha and Cheikh.
Reader's Guide
Sepiella ornata is a demersal cuttlefish species described by Sander Rang in 1837 from a Gulf of Guinea specimen. Its significance lies in its distribution along the West African coast from Mauritania to Namibia, inhabiting muddy or sandy mud bottoms at depths of 20 to 150 meters, with highest abundance below 50 meters. The species is noted for its reddish or wine-colored spots along the dorsal fins and sexual dimorphism in sucker counts on the clubs. According to Rocha and Cheikh, it is of potential interest to fisheries, though as of 2014 it was primarily caught as bycatch in bottom trawls. Its large eggs are a reproductive characteristic. The species' depth range and offshore distance (13–16 km) define its habitat. The work of Guerra, Gonzalez, Roeleveld, and Jereb is cited for substrate preferences. No further commercial or conservation details are provided in the source article.
Did You Know?
- It has a total body length of up to 100 centimeters and a mantle length of up to 100 millimeters.
- The species has reddish or wine-colored spots along its dorsal fins.
- It is found from Cape Blanco in Mauritania to Cape Frio in Namibia, usually below 30 meters depth.
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