FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

746 Cephalopods
Sepia opipara (Iredale, 1926)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Glyptosepia opipara Iredale, 1926 / None.
FAO names: En -Staregaze cuttlefish.
Diagnostic characters: Both sexes with tetraserial
arm suckers. Left ventral arm (IV) of males
hectocotylized: 5 or 6 rows of normal suckers
proximally, followed by 6 or 7 rows of reduced
suckers, then remainder normal to arm tip.Tentacular
club sucker-bearing face flattened;
with 3 or 4 suckers in transverse
rows; suckers differ markedly in
size, middle of club with 4 or 5 big
suckers; swimming keel extending
well beyond club; dorsal and ventral
protective membranes not fused at
base of club, joined to stalk at base
of club, not separated from stalk by a
membrane; protective membranes
extending beyond sucker-bearing
face along stalk, dorsal membrane
forming a deep cleft at junction with
stalk. Cuttlebone dorsal surface
pinkish; flat medially and laterally;
median rib present, distinct, sides
approximately parallel; lateral ribs
distinct; spine with ventral keel; sulcus
shallow, narrow; anterior striae
inverted U-shape; inner cone limbs
of uniform width, thickened
posteriorly forming a rounded ridge; tentacular club
dorsal view
ventral view
outer cone narrow anteriorly,
cuttlebone
broadens posteriorly, lateral limbs
wide. Colour: pale pinkish brown.
(after Iredale, 1926)
Size: Maximum mantle length about 150 mm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: At depths from 83 to 184 m. Species taken as bycatch of prawn and mixed
species trawl fisheries.
Distribution: Northern Australia.
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