FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

730 Cephalopods
11a. Tentacular club suckers all similar in size . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 12
11b. Tentacular club suckers differ markedly in size . . . . . . . . . . → 24
12a. Tentacular club with 8 or fewer suckers in transverse rows . . . . . .→ 13
12b. Tentacular club with 10 or more suckers in transverse rows . . . . .→ 18
13a. Arms I to IV of both sexes with biserial suckers proximally,
tetraserial distally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sepia sulcata
13b. Arms I to IV of both sexes with tetraserial suckers throughtout . . . . → 14
14a. Cuttlebone inner cone forming a raised ledge posteriorly
(Fig. 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sepia brevimana
14b. Cuttlebone inner cone may be thickened, but does not form a
raised ledge posteriorly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .→15 raised ledge
15a. Hectocotylus absent; cuttlebone inner cone limbs not thickened
posteriorly (Fig. 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sepia mestus
15b. Hectocotylus present; cuttlebone inner
cone limbs thickened posteriorly . . . . . . .→16 16a. Tentacular club with 5 or 6 suckers in
transverse rows; anterior margin of cuttlebone
triangular, posterior margin bluntpointed;
cuttlebone striated zone flat, or
slightly convex; cuttlebone outer cone of
approximately uniform width along its
length (Fig. 22) . . . . . . . . . . . Sepia cultrata
16b. Tentacular club with 8 suckers in transverse
rows; anterior margin of cuttlebone
blunt-pointed or rounded, posterior margin
rounded; cuttlebone striated zone concave;
cuttlebone outer cone broadens
posteriorly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .→ 17
17a. Dorsal mantle with wrinkled
striped pattern and distinctive
ocellate patches, and a
pale reflective line along
base of fins (Fig. 23); cuttlebone
anterior striae inverted
V-shape; cuttlebone inner
cone limbs thick, broadens
posteriorly (Fig. 24a) . Sepia lycidas
17b. Dorsal mantle brownish,
sometimes with darker
brown blotches and scattered
white spots; cuttlebone
anterior striae inverted
U-shape; cuttlebone inner
cone limbs thick, of uniform
width (Fig. 24b) . . . Sepia madokai
ocellate
patches
dorsal view
Fig. 22 Sepia lycidas
Sepia mestus
Fig. 20 cuttlebone
(ventral view)
anterior striae
inverted V-shape
Sepia brevimana
Fig. 24 cuttlebone
anterior
margin
triangular
Sepia cultrata
Fig. 21 cuttlebone
(ventral view)
anterior striae
inverted U-shape
a) Sepia lycidas b) Sepia madokai
Fig. 23 cuttlebone (ventral view)