The genus Sepia includes numerous species (more than 100) that live in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters in all oceans and seas except the coasts of the Americas (for geographic distribution of the different species see Adam, 1979; Adam and Rees, 1966; Boletzky et al., 1996; Nesis, 1982; Roeleveld, 1972).

The two other genera of the family, Metasepius and Sepiella, occur only in South African waters and in the Western Pacific.

The members of this family are benthic and inhabit primarily coastal waters but are also found on the slope to a depth of about 500 meters.