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DiscoverSpeciesCephalopods

Dwarf Cuttlefish

Ascarosepion bandense

  • Cephalopods
  • IUCN: Not evaluated
  • Usual depth12 m
  • Water temperature19–29 °C
  • Best monthsSeptember
  • How commonRare
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About this species

The dwarf cuttlefish (Ascarosepion bandense), also known as the stumpy-spined cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish native to the shallow coastal waters of the Central Indo-Pacific. A 2023 phylogenetic analysis reassigned this species from its former name. Sepia baxteri and Sepia bartletti are possible synonyms. It is common in coral reef and sandy coast habitats, usually in association with sea cucumbers and sea stars.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Dwarf cuttlefish”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 1 records
  • February: 0 records
  • March: 0 records
  • April: 1 records
  • May: 0 records
  • June: 2 records
  • July: 3 records
  • August: 0 records
  • September: 7 records
  • October: 1 records
  • November: 0 records
  • December: 0 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 12 m · Deepest record: 12 m

  • 10–20 m: 1 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 19–29 °C

  • 18–20 °C: 2 records
  • 20–22 °C: 0 records
  • 22–24 °C: 0 records
  • 24–26 °C: 0 records
  • 26–28 °C: 2 records
  • 28–30 °C: 14 records

Names and classification

English
Dwarf Cuttlefish, Stumpy Cuttlefish, Stumpy-spined Cuttlefish
Names in 1 more languages
Japanese
バンダコウイカ

Other scientific names: Sepia bandensis

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 47 open-data records from 1950 to 2012.

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