Sepia braggi

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Sepia braggi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Sepiida
Family: Sepiidae
Genus: Sepia
Subgenus: Doratosepion
Species:
S. braggi
Binomial name
Sepia braggi
Verco, 1907 [2]

Sepia braggi, the slender cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It has been found in coastal waters of southern Australia. [3] This species was first collected in South Australia by its namesake, William Lawrence Bragg. [4] Sepia braggi was then described by Sir Joseph Cooke Verco in 1907. [5] Sepia braggi is part of the subgenus Doratosepion which contains to 41 species of cuttlefish in total. [6]

Contents

Description

Sepia braggi is a relatively small species of cuttlefish. Females of the species are larger than males and they grow to a mantle length of 80 mm and 49 mm, respectively. [7] The mantle elongates to 3 times longer than it is wide. The mantle is cigar-shaped and triangular towards the anterior end. [8] Narrow fins extend along the lateral margin of the mantle and widen along the posterior. The head is short and narrower than the mantle. [6] The cuttlebone tends to have a similar length to the mantle. [9] The common name of S. braggi originates from its slender cuttlebone, which is lanceolate in shape. [6] The tentacular club is relatively short, with five rows of suckers. [10] The suckers are all approximately the same size except for 5 or 6 suckers in the middle row which are 2 to 3 times larger. The suckers on the arms are dispersed and minute in size. [8] The arms of the males are large compared to the females, with 35.2 mm to 57.8 mm in length, while the arms of the female range from 30.6 mm to 39.6 mm in length. [6] In contrast to similar species, the hectocotylus is absent. [6] This cuttlefish can also be identified by its beak, which is useful for examining the stomachs of fish. [11] Of the Sepia genus, S. braggi is only species that does not have a darkened lateral band on the upper and lower beak. Also, on the upper beak, the fully darkened section is much smaller (2.6 mm) than other species of Sepia.

The head and mantle of Sepia braggi are a buff, pinkish brown in color. [8] The fins tend to be pale brown and the ridges along the mantle are orange-pink. What separates Sepia braggi from all other species of cuttlefish are the short purple bars and blotches on the arms. [6] This pigmentation is very distinctive and clearly visible, even on smaller or juvenile specimens.

Distribution

This image shows the cuttlebone that Sir Joseph Cooke Verco used to identify Sepia braggi as separate species. Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.MOL.311325 - Sepia braggi Verco, 1907 - Sepiidae - Mollusc shell.jpeg
This image shows the cuttlebone that Sir Joseph Cooke Verco used to identify Sepia braggi as separate species.

Sepia braggi are located in Southern Australia, from southern New South Wales to Western Australia. [12] It is a demersal species, typically found in depth between 30 and 86 meters. One source does give a maximum depth for S. braggi of 176 m, [13] though it is possible that those from greater depths may have been misidentified and perhaps refer to the species of S. limata, S. rhoda or S. vercoi. [6] The Dorarosepion species from the from southern and eastern Australia are largely allopatric, though there is some overlap in the distribution of S. braggi and S. cottoni off south-western Australia. Sepia braggi is one of three species of cuttlefish known to inhabit Spencer Gulf in South Australia. [8] Specimens are rarely caught there by prawn trawlers.

Diet and ecology

Similar to other cuttlefish species, S. braggi feeds on small crabs, other crustaceans and fish. [8] Sharks, large fish and seals are known predators of cuttlefish. [3] Sepia apama and Sepia novaehollandiae are the main competitors of the Sepia braggi as both species are larger and more common. [8]

Fisheries

Sepia braggi are rarely encountered and are relatively small. Therefore, the species is classified by fisheries as low value and S. braggi is only caught as by-catch. [8]

Related Research Articles

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Metasepia pfefferi, also known as the flamboyant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish occurring in tropical Indo-Pacific waters off northern Australia, southern New Guinea, as well as numerous islands of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

<i>Sepia latimanus</i> Species of cephalopods known as the broadclub cuttlefish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common cuttlefish</span> Species of cephalopod

The common cuttlefish or European common cuttlefish is one of the largest and best-known cuttlefish species. They are a migratory species that spend the summer and spring inshore for spawning and then move to depths of 100–200 metres (330–660 ft) during autumn and winter. They grow to 49 centimetres (19 in) in mantle length and 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) in weight. Animals from subtropical seas are smaller and rarely exceed 30 centimetres (12 in) in mantle length.

Sepia bartletti is a species of cuttlefish native to the western Pacific Ocean. It is known only from the type locality. Depth range is unknown. Some authorities regard S. bartletti as a nomen dubium.

Sepia baxteri is a species of cuttlefish native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean, specifically the waters around Lord Howe Island. It is known only from the type cuttlebones. Depth range is unknown.

<i>Sepia mestus</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia mestus, also known as the reaper cuttlefish or red cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean, specifically Escape Reef off Queensland to Murrays Beach off Jervis Bay. 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.

<i>Sepia novaehollandiae</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia novaehollandiae is a species of cuttlefish native to the southern Indo-Pacific. Its natural range stretches from Shellharbour, New South Wales to North West Shelf in Western Australia. It lives at depths of between 15 and 348 m.

Sepia australis, the southern cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish which is found in the eastern South Atlantic Ocean and the western Indian Ocean off the coasts of Southern Africa, possibly extending into the waters off East Africa.

Sepia hedleyi, or Hedley's cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish in the family Sepiidae, endemic to subtropical and temperate waters off Australia.

Sepia plana is a species of cuttlefish native to the coast of Australia, specifically the North West Shelf. However, cuttlebones of this species have also been found off eastern Australia, suggesting that it may have a wider distribution. S. plana lives at depths of between 396 and 505 m.

Sepia reesi is a species of cuttlefish native to the southeastern Indian Ocean. Cuttlebone of this species known only from the type locality.

<i>Sepia tuberculata</i> Species of mollusc

Sepia tuberculata is a species of cuttlefish native to South African waters from Melkbosstrand to Knysna. It belongs to the genus Sepia. It lives in very shallow water to a depth of 3 m. It is endemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuttlefish</span> Order of molluscs

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Sepia zanzibarica, or the Zanzibar cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish native to the Indian Ocean.

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Sepia prashadi, common name hooded cuttlefish, is a widely distributed species of cuttlefish. It has a thin, oval body and grows from 5 to 11 cm. The tips of the tentacles have a distinct club shape. S. prashadi is a migratory, demersal cuttlefish living in shallow waters at depths of approximately 40 to 50 metres. It is found in many locations including the east coast of Africa, around India, in the Red Sea, and Persian Gulf.

<i>Sepia elegans</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia elegans, the elegant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish in the family Sepiidae from the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is an important species for fisheries in some parts of the Mediterranean where its population may have suffered from overfishing.

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<i>Sepia orbignyana</i> Species of cuttlefish

Sepia orbignyana, the pink cuttlefish, is a species of small cuttlefish from the family Sepiidae. It is occurs in the temperate and tropical waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

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References

  1. ↑ Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2012). "Sepia braggi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T162629A932030. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T162629A932030.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Julian Finn (2016). "Sepia braggi' Verco, 1907". World Register of Marine Species. Flanders Marine Institute. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 Cephalopods of the world : an annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Jereb, P., Roper, Clyde F. E., 1937-, Supersedes (work): Roper, Clyde F. E., 1937-, FAO FishFinder (Programme), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2005. ISBN   978-92-5-105383-6. OCLC   71193186.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ↑ Jenkin, John (2015-07-03). "The Braggs, X-ray Crystallography, and Lawrence Bragg's Sound-ranging in World War I". Interdisciplinary Science Reviews. 40 (3): 222–243. Bibcode:2015ISRv...40..222J. doi:10.1179/0308018815z.000000000115. ISSN   0308-0188. S2CID   146735067.
  5. ↑ Verco, Jos. C. (Joseph C.) (1912). Notes on South Australian marine Mollusca with descriptions of new species (1908-1912). [Royal Society of South Australia]. OCLC   808676817.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Reid, A. L. (2000). "Australian cuttlefishes (Cephalopoda : Sepiidae): the 'doratosepion' species complex". Invertebrate Systematics. 14 (1): 1. doi:10.1071/it98013. ISSN   1445-5226.
  7. ↑ Voss, N. A.; Sweeney, M. J. (1998). "Systematics and Biogeography of cephalopods. Volume I". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology (586): 1–276. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.586. ISSN   0081-0282.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Steer, Michael A. (2015). Surveying, searching and promoting giant Australian cuttlefish spawning activitiy [sic] in northern Spencer Gulf : final report to the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation. South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (Australia). West Beach, SA. ISBN   978-1-921563-74-4. OCLC   911753565.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ↑ Bell, K. N. (1979-06-30). "Variation in the Sepions of Victorian Cuttles (Mollusca : Cephalopoda)". Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia. 4 (3): 157–166. doi:10.1080/00852988.1979.10673926. ISSN   0085-2988.
  10. ↑ Roper, Clyde F. E. (1984). Cephalopods of the world : an annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries. Sweeney, Michael J., 1945-, Nauen, Cornelia E. [Rome]: United Nations Development Programme. ISBN   92-5-101382-9. OCLC   12946074.
  11. ↑ Lu, C.C.; Ickeringill, R. (2002). "Cephalopod beak identification and biomass estimation techniques: tools for dietary studies of southern Australian finfishes". Museum Victoria Science Reports. 6: 1–65. doi: 10.24199/j.mvsr.2002.06 . ISSN   1833-0290.
  12. ↑ Reid, Amanda (2016-02-17). "Post-mortem drift in Australian cuttlefish sepions: its effect on the interpretation of species ranges". Molluscan Research. 36 (1): 9–21. doi:10.1080/13235818.2015.1064366. ISSN   1323-5818. S2CID   88352601.
  13. ↑ Khromov, D (1998). "Distribution Patterns of Sepiidae. In Systematics and Biogeography of Cephalopods". Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington D.C. I (586): 191–206.
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