Ornate cuttlefish (Sepiella ornata)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List.
Last updated
Sander Rang (1793–1844) · via Wikipedia: Sepiella ornata · Public domain
Ornate cuttlefish (Sepiella ornata) is a marine species in the family Sepiidae (Mollusca › Cephalopoda › Sepiida), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Sepiella ornata (Rang, 1837) under AphiaID 225586.
Scientific classification
- OrderSepiida
- FamilySepiidae
- GenusSepiella
- SpeciesSepiella ornata
Named by (Rang, 1837)
Close relatives
Other species of Sepiella with a Codexery entry.
- Sepiella inermis Sepiella inermis
- Sepiella japonica Sepiella japonica
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Sepiella ornata (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 225586 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Data Deficient (DD)
Data Deficient: there is not enough information to place this species on the risk scale.
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.1 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: SeaLifeBase species summary
Where the ornate cuttlefish (sepiella ornata) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (45 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 18 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Cephalopoda · Order: Sepiida · Family: Sepiidae · Genus: Sepiella.
Accepted name: Sepiella ornata · Authority: (Rang, 1837) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 225586.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Sepia ornata Rang, 1837.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225586 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Sepiella ornata. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 10 cm · Depth range: 20–150 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.
SeaLifeBase notes: Occurs at depths from 20 to 150 m (Ref. 417).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 57451) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Sepiella-ornata.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
45 georeferenced occurrence records for Sepiella ornata are published through GBIF from 19 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 20 distinct locations from a sample of 45 records, omitting 18 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Australia (6); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (5); Nigeria (5); Ghana (4); Angola (3); Benin (3); Côte d’Ivoire (3); Mexico (2); Netherlands (2); Sierra Leone (2); Thailand (2); Congo, Democratic Republic of the (1); Spain (1); Gabon (1); Guinea (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Angolan Exclusive Economic Zone; Eastern Central Atlantic; FAO fishing area 34; FAO fishing area 47; Gulf of Guinea.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2290903) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2290903&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225586 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Sepiella ornata (Rang, 1837) as Data Deficient (code DD). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 162567) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/162567/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2290903) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2290903/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Sepiella ornata (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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