How do cuttlefish reproduce

DIVE weekly updates. Get updates of all the diving news plus all our latest offers and competitions in our regular newsletters. We never share your data. Unsubscribe anytime. Get Our App. DIVELive is free, full archive available to digital subscribers. Follow DIVE. All Rights Reserved. Website design by Member Magazine Publishers. Share this article The mantle houses reproductive and digestive organs, as well an internal shell called the cuttlebone.

The cuttlebone shape is oblong with a rounded posterior end and an anterior end that tapers to a point. The body of S. A pair of flat, wide fins runs the length of the mantle. The mouth is surrounded by eight arms and two longer tentacles, all equipped with suckers. Mature Sepia officinalis exhibit a zebra stripe pattern on the dorsal surface of their mantles during breeding season. Adult males are distinguished by white and black zebra bands on their fourth arm, as well as white arm spots.

Sepia officinalis is able to change the color and even texture of its skin using structures called chromatophores, leucophores, and iridophores. These structures function to camouflage this species to its variable surroundings.

Generally, however, Sepia officinalis has a mottled black or brown color. Females deposit clusters of eggs on seaweed, shells, and other substrate along the seafloor. Eggs measure 6 to 9 mm in diameter, hatching after about 2 months, or days, depending on water temperature. Once hatched, the young Sepia officinalis have a total length of 50 mm. Newly hatched young are well developed and can almost immediately start feeding on small prey.

Growth rates vary with temperature, the young growing faster at lower temperatures. Sepia officinalis generally reaches maturity at 14 to 18 months of age. Jereb and Roper, ; King, ; "Common cuttlefish- Sepia officinalis", Sepia officinalis has separate male and female sexes.

In the spring and summer, male and females migrate to shallow, warmer waters to spawn. They exhibit elaborate courtships, wherein males attract females through spectacular displays of colored bands passing rapidly along their bodies. Males then hold their arms stiffly in a basket formation to show their virility.

Similarly, females display a uniform gray color when ready to mate. Mate guarding, in which males aggressively fight over and guard their females, is also common. Hart, ; Jereb and Roper, ; King, ; Neves, et al. Mating in Sepia officinalis involves internal fertilization. Males carry as many as spermatophores, while females carry somewhere between and eggs, depending on body size. Sepia officinalis reaches sexual maturity at 14 to 18 months of age.

Females can lay eggs several times at the ends of their lives. However, after spawning both male and females die. Fertilized eggs are stored in the oviduct of the female Sepia officinalis until they are ready to be deposited. Eggs are produced with deposits of ink, to color and, therefore, camouflage the eggs for protection. A young Sepia officinalis hatches with a yolk to provide nutritious support until they are able to catch their own prey.

Sepia officinalis has a typical lifespan of one to two years. King, Sepia officinalis is active at night and spends most of its time on the sea floor. It swims mainly to eat, mate or fight with other cuttlefish.

The undulating fins on either side of its mantle aid in swimming. The European cuttlefish also has the ability to rapidly propel itself by forcing water through its siphon. When this cycle occurs, cuttlebones can be found washed up on ocean shores all over the world MarineBio Conservation Society This is probably because, in our mind, we connect time on earth with increased intelligence.

However, the cuttlefish is much different and their high intelligence level is with them at birth Wood Two things determine dominance between males: physical intimidation no direct contact and the best looking den during mating season Boal Similar to some other animal species, the slightly larger males use color change as a signal of attraction towards females.

The team plans to uncover what these driving factors are, and how prevalent they are in each gender. By Sandrine Ceurstemont Video: Cuttlefish romance ends with twisted sex. Trending Latest Video Free. Paralysed mice walk again after gel is injected into spinal cord COP World agrees to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies and reduce coal Will a scramble to mine metals undermine the clean energy revolution?