FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Sepiidae 739
Sepia braggi Verco, 1907
Frequent synonyms 1/ / misidentifications: Arctosepia
limata Iredale, 1926; A. versuta Iredale, 1926; A. rhoda
Iredale 1954; A. treba Iredale 1954; A. braggi xera Iredale,
1954 / None.
FAO names: En - Slender cuttlefish; Fr - Seiche gracile;
Sp - Sepia grácil.
tentacular
club
ventral
view
10 mm dorsal
lateral view view
cuttlebone
(illustration: K. Hollis/ABRS)
dorsal view
Diagnostic characters: Mantle shape oblong. Both sexes with longitudinal row of 5 or 6 ridges along each
side, close to fins. Male arms III greatly elongated; female arms all similar in length. Male and female
arm suckers: arms I to III with tetraserial suckers proximally, biserial suckers at distal tips; arms IV
with tetraserial suckers throughout. Hectocotylus absent. Tentacular club short, with 5 or 6 suckers
in transverse rows, differing markedly in size, 5 or 6 median suckers twice the diameter of rest; dorsal and
ventral protective membranes not fused at base of club, joined to stalk at base of club, extending beyond
sucker-bearing face along stalk; dorsal protective membrane much wider than ventral membrane. Cuttlebone
outline lanceolate; dorsal surface pinkish; evenly convex; faint median rib present; spine present, long, curving
upward, keel(s) absent; ventral surface convex; sulcus deep, narrow, flanked by rounded ribs; anterior striae
m-shaped; inner cone limbs of uniform width, thickened posteriorly forming a shiny rounded ridge; outer cone
limbs expanded forming 2 short wings. Colour: pinkish purple dorsally, pale ventrally; arms II to IV with
median longitudinal dark pink strips
and transverse bars and spots.
Size: Maximum mantle length
65 mm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: A
demersal species, at depths between
30 and 146 m.Taken as bycatch with
other cuttlefish species in southern
and southeastern Australia.
Distribution: Southern Australia
(see footnote!).
1/ Since the time of writing, some additional information has been become available. Lu (in press) included 5 species
in synonymy with Sepia braggi (see section on “Frequent synonyms” above). Work in progress by the author [A.L.
Reid] and currently being prepared for publication has shown S. limata (Iredale, 1926) and S. rhoda (Iredale, 1954)
to be valid species. In addition, the distribution of S. braggi is now known to be restricted to the southeastern corner
of Australia (outside the WCP area).
10 mm