FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

778 Cephalopods
“Sepioteuthis lessoniana” Lesson, 1830 ? species complex
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Sepioteuthis
arctipinnis Gould, 1852 / None.
FAO names: En - Bigfin reef squid; Fr - Calmar tonnelet;
Sp - Calamar manopla.
Diagnostic characters: Mantle
long, robust, its width about 40%
of length. Fins very large, length
over 90% mantle length, width up
to 75% mantle length; greatest
width occurs posterior to the
midpoint of the fins. Tentacular
clubs long, expanded; median manus
suckers enlarged; rings with 14
to 23 sharp conical teeth. Arm
sucker rings with 18 to 29 long
sharp, regularly spaced, conical
teeth around entire margin; tentacles
long, robust; left arm IV hectocotylized
along distal 25 to 30%.
Colour: dark to light brown to pale
translucent; iridescent pale transverse
bars or spots are present dorsally
in all colour phases and are
distinctive of this species.
Size: Maximum dorsal mantle length
422 mm in males, smaller in females;
commonly 200 to 300 mm mantle
length.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries:
Sepioteuthis lessoniana is a neritic
species occurring from the surface
down to a depth of at least 100 m. The
spawning season may be quite extended.
Egg capsules containing 3 to
7 eggs are finger-shaped and attached
in clusters to seaweeds, submerged
mangrove roots, twigs, stones and corals
in coastal waters. Around Okinawa
andPalau,aformlaying2eggsper
capsule attached underneath coral
boulders has recently been reported.
Preys primarily on prawns and fishes,
occasionally on stomatopods and crabs. Grows to 200 mm in about 150 days in northern Australia. Males
reach larger sizes than females. Of major commercial and artisanal value throughout Southeast Asia,
captured using a variety of gear from demersal trawls to jigs and hooks, spears, set nets, and traps.
Distribution: Widespread in
the Indo-Pacific: Red Sea
eastward to the Hawaiian Islands,
northern Australia to
central Japan.
tentacular club
sucker ring
arm III sucker ring
hectocotylus
distal end of
hectocotylus
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dorsal view
(illustration: K. Hollis/ABRS)
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