Cuttlefishコウイカ

Sepia pharaonisLC— Least Concern

The pharaoh cuttlefish is a large, tiger-striped cuttlefish of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, growing to a mantle length of 42 cm and a weight of 5 kg. It hunts fish, crabs, and even other cuttlefish at night in shallow water, relying on rapid chromatophore color changes for camouflage and communication. It is assessed as Least Concern and remains an economically important species across its range.

Cuttlefish (reference photo)
Photo: Silke Baron / CC BY 2.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Sepiida / Sepiidae Source
Distribution
Ranges across the Indian Ocean into the western Pacific down to depths of about 120 m, including the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, with some individuals reaching the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Source

Did You Know?

  • Its Japanese name, meaning "tiger-striped cuttlefish," comes from the striped pattern across its back and head. Source
  • Its skin packs up to 200 pigment-controlling chromatophores per square millimeter, letting it change color almost instantly for camouflage. Source

Where to See This Species

0 facilities · 0 individuals

Verified individual animals and facilities will be added as official information becomes available.

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNではLCです。沿岸の浅海環境と資源利用の状況を見守ることが重要です。

Habitat

インド太平洋の沿岸にある砂泥底、岩礁、浅海。

Threats

  • 沿岸生息地の改変
  • 漁獲圧
  • 海洋汚染

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • 沿岸環境の保全
  • 飼育下での生活史の理解

Sources

en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why is Sepia pharaonis called the pharaoh or tiger cuttlefish?
In Japanese it is named トラフコウイカ ("tiger-striped cuttlefish") for the banded pattern on its back and head-arm region. Source
How big can it get?
It is one of the largest cuttlefish species, reaching a mantle length of 42 cm and a body weight of up to 5 kg. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org