Sepiidae: Sepia apama Gray, 1849 (‘giant cuttlefish’)

Synonym(s): apama Gray, 1849 palmata Owen, 1881 parysatis Iredale, 1954.

Typical shell-length 300 mm. As with all cuttlefishes, the ‘shell’ is the animal’s rigid but buoyant internal support structure, which floats to the surface once the animal dies and may drift many kilometres before beaching. Lives in inshore waters in midwater. Native. Endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia (QLD, NSW, TAS, VIC, SA and WA). In Tasmanian waters, this is a widespread species; common in the N, but rare to the S.