Table of Contents
Overview
Distribution
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UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=1318
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Jereb, P.; Roper, C.F.E. (Eds)(2005). An annotated an illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Volume 1: Chambered nautilusses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes 4(1). FAO, Rome. 262p., 9 colour plates.
http://www.marinespecies.org/mollusca/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=124589
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Geographic Range
Pfeffer's flamboyant cuttlefish, Metasepia pfefferi, is found in Tropical Indo-Pacific oceans, especially along the coast of northern Australia, western Australia, and across to the southern edge of New Guinea.
Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native ); australian (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )
- Reid, A. 2005. Family Sepiidae. In P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds., Cephalopods of the World. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes, 1(4): 57-152. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://marinebio.org/cephs/FAO/A0150e00.pdf.
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Metasepia pfefferi is a small cephalopod with a dark brown base color. This cuttlefish has overlaying patterns of white and yellow and its arms are purple-pink. The skin contains many chromatophores, which are pigment cells that can be manipulated to change colors. Females and males have similar colors except when spawning.
Metasepia pfefferi has a very broad, oval mantle that is flattened dorsoventrally. The dorsal mantle has three pairs of large, flat, flap-like papillae, which cover its eyes. The dorsal anterior edge of the mantle lacks the tongue-like projection that is common among all other species of cuttlefish. The head is slightly narrower than the mantle. The mouth is surrounded by ten appendages. Two of the appendages are tentacles and eight of them are arms. The arms are broad and blade-like. On males, one of the arms is modified into a hectocotylus for holding and transferring spermatophores. The cuttlebone, the defining feature of a cuttlefish, is approximately two thirds to three quarters the length of the mantle. Metasepia pfefferi is also venomous.
Range length: 60 (high) mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; venomous
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
- Mangold, K., M. Vecchione, R. Young. 1999. "Cephalopoda Glossary" (On-line). The Tree of Life Web Project. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://www.tol.tolweb.org/notes/?note_id=587#hanchor.
- Mangold, K., R. Young. 2008. "Metasepia" (On-line). The Tree of Life Web Project. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://tolweb.org/Metasepia/20008/2008.04.21.
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Ecology
Habitat
Metasepia pfefferi is typically a bottom-dweller living from depths of 3 to 86 m. It prefers living among sandy and muddy substrates in tropical waters.
Range depth: 3 to 86 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; reef ; coastal
Other Habitat Features: intertidal or littoral
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Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 30 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 10.5 - 94.6786
Temperature range (°C): 23.578 - 26.692
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.129 - 1.886
Salinity (PPS): 34.394 - 35.474
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.190 - 4.703
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.089 - 0.284
Silicate (umol/l): 0.380 - 2.731
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 10.5 - 94.6786
Temperature range (°C): 23.578 - 26.692
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.129 - 1.886
Salinity (PPS): 34.394 - 35.474
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.190 - 4.703
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.089 - 0.284
Silicate (umol/l): 0.380 - 2.731
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Cuttlefish are carnivorous animals. They feed primarily on crustaceans and bony fish. The beak is used to capture prey.
Animal Foods: fish; aquatic crustaceans
Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)
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Associations
Ecosystem Roles
Metasepia pfefferi is a predatory animal. It helps to keep fish and crustacean population sizes in check.
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Predation
In general, cuttlefish are preyed upon by seals, dolphins and fish. When Metasepia pfefferi is threatened, it quickly change its colors through the manipulation of its chromatophores. It creates black, white and yellow patches on its dark brown skin and turns the tips of its arms bright red. These bright colors are used to warn other creatures of its venomous nature. It will keep this color pattern while waving its protective arm membranes, until it no longer feels threatened. Cuttlefish in general will secrete ink to disorient a predator and escape.
Anti-predator Adaptations: aposematic ; cryptic
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Life History and Behavior
Behavior
Communication and Perception
Cuttlefish in general have a well-developed brain that can see, smell, and sense sound waves. The cuttlefish will change colors in response to its environment, either to lure in prey or avoid predators. Males may put on displays to attract a female. Some cuttlefish are able to go through mazes through use of visual cues.
Cuttlefish also have a well developed eye which can detect polarized light, but it is likely color-blind. Reshaping the eye allows it to focus on specific objects.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; polarized light ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical
- Smithsonian National Zoological Park. 2008. "Cephalopods: Color Change and Disguise" (On-line). Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Invertebrates/Facts/cephalopods/colordisguise.cfm.
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Life Cycle
Development
The eggs initially are round and white, and become clear as the egg develops. Development timing depends on water temperature.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
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Life Expectancy
Lifespan/Longevity
The lifespan of Metasepia pfefferi is estimated to be between 18 and 24 months based on knowledge of other species in the same family. However, many females do not survive post-spawning. Metasepia pfefferi is rarely held in captivity, and therefore, its lifespan in captivity has not been described.
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Reproduction
The females generally mate with more than one male. Sometimes male cuttlefish may spray water into the female's buccal area to clear out spermatophores from previous mates.
Mating System: polyandrous
Males will put on colorful displays to attract females. Some males may change color to look like a female to avoid a more aggressive male, but gain access to a female.
Sexes are separate. Metasepia pfefferi reproduces by internal fertilization. Males have a specialized, hectocotyl arm that is used for holding and transferring spermatophores (packets of sperm) into the females buccal areas during mating. The female grabs the spermatophores with her arms and wipes them onto her eggs. After fertilization, the female lays her eggs one by one in hard to reach cracks and crevices to hide and provide protection against predators.
Breeding interval: Cuttlefish breed six to eight weeks in the spring.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
The females lay eggs in places that hide them from predators, but there is no parental care post-hatching as cuttlefish die after spawning.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female)
- Kaufmann, G. 2007. "Kings of Camouflage: Anatomy of a Cuttlefish" (On-line). NOVA. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/camo/anat-nf.html.
- Mangold, K., M. Vecchione, R. Young. 1999. "Cephalopoda Glossary" (On-line). The Tree of Life Web Project. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://www.tol.tolweb.org/notes/?note_id=587#hanchor.
- Norman, M. 2007. "Transcripts: Kings of Camoflauge" (On-line). NOVA. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/3404_camo.html.
- Reid, A. 2005. Family Sepiidae. In P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds., Cephalopods of the World. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes, 1(4): 57-152. Accessed December 20, 2010 at http://marinebio.org/cephs/FAO/A0150e00.pdf.
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Conservation
Conservation Status
There has been little or no research into the status of Metasepia pfefferi in the wild.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Metasepia pfefferi is one of only three known venomous species of cephalopods. The venom that M. pfefferi contains is shown to have similar lethal effects as that of the blue-ringed octopus, Hapolochlaena maculosa. The venom is very toxic and it may possibly be able to quickly kill an adult human.
Negative Impacts: injures humans (bites or stings, venomous )
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Currently, there are no known positive effects of Metasepia pfefferi on humans. However, it has recently been discovered that the venom it possesses is of a new class that may possibly have uses in medicine.
Positive Impacts: source of medicine or drug
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Wikipedia
Metasepia pfefferi
Metasepia pfefferi, also known as Pfeffer's flamboyant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish occurring in tropical Indo-Pacific waters off northern Australia, southern New Guinea, as well as numerous islands of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Victoria, Australia, discovered that this unique species of cuttlefish is poisonous.[1]
Contents |
Distribution
The natural range of M. pfefferi extends from Mandurah in Western Australia (32°33′S 115°04′E / 32.550°S 115.067°E), northeastward to Moreton Bay in southern Queensland (27°25′S 153°15′E / 27.417°S 153.250°E),[citation needed] and across the Arafura Sea to the southern coast of New Guinea.[2] This species has also been recorded from Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, and even as far west as the Malaysian islands of Mabul and Sipadan.[3] They are also common in the Philippines and are frequently sighted in the Visayas.[citation needed]
The type specimen, a female, was collected off Challenger Station 188 in the Arafura Sea (09°59′S 139°42′E / 9.983°S 139.700°E) at a depth of 51 m on October 9, 1874, as part of the Challenger expedition.[2][4] It is deposited at The Natural History Museum in London.[5]
Description
M. pfefferi is a robust-looking species, having a very broad, oval mantle. Arms are broad and blade-like, with arm pair I being shorter than the rest. The protective membranes are narrow in both sexes. Arm suckers are arranged in four rows. The modified arm used by males for fertilisation, called the hectocotylus, is borne on the left ventral arm. The oral surface of the modified region of the hectocotylus is wide, swollen, and fleshy. It bears transversely grooved ridges and a deep furrow running along the middle. The sucker-bearing surface of the tentacular clubs is flattened, with 5 or 6 suckers arranged in transverse rows. These suckers differ greatly in size, with the largest located near the centre of the club. Three to four median suckers are especially large, occupying most of middle portion of the club. The swimming keel of the club extends considerably near to the carpus. The dorsal and ventral protective membranes are not joined at the base of the club, but fused to the tentacular stalk. Dorsal and ventral membranes differ in length and extend near to the carpus along the stalk. The dorsal membrane forms a shallow cleft at the junction with the stalk.[2] This particular species of cuttlefish is the only one known to walk upon the sea floor. Due to the small size of its cuttlebone, it can float only for a short time.
Most sources agree that M. pfefferi grows to 8 cm (3.1 in) in mantle length,[3][6] although others give a maximum mantle length of 6 cm (2.4 in).[2] The dorsal surface of the mantle bears three pairs of large, flat, flap-like papillae. Papillae are also present over the eyes.[2]
The cuttlebone of this species is small, two-thirds to three-quarters the length of the mantle, and positioned in its anterior. Characteristic of the genus Metasepia, the cuttlebone is rhomboidal in outline. Both the anterior and posterior of the cuttlebone taper gradually to an acute point. The dorsal surface of the cuttlebone is yellowish and evenly convex. The texture throughout is smooth, lacking bumps or pustules. The dorsal median rib is absent. A thin film of chitin covers the entire dorsal surface. The cuttlebone lacks a pronounced spine; if present, it is small and chitinous. The striated zone of the cuttlebone is concave, with the last loculus being strongly convex and thick in the front third. The sulcus is deep and wide and extends along the striated zone only. Striae (furrows) on the anterior surface form an inverted V-shape. The limbs of the inner cone are very short, narrow, and uniform in width, with the U-shape thickened slightly towards the back. The cuttlebone of M. pfefferi does not possess an outer cone, unlike that of most other cuttlefish species.[2]
Habitat and biology
M. pfefferi has been recorded from sand and mud substrate in shallow waters at depths of 3 to 86 m. The species is active during the day and has been observed hunting fish and crustaceans. It employs complex and varied camouflage to stalk its prey. The normal base color of this species is dark brown. Individuals that are disturbed or attacked quickly change colour to a pattern of black, dark brown, and white, with yellow patches around the mantle, arms, and eyes. The arm tips often display bright red coloration to ward off would-be predators. Animals displaying this colour pattern have been observed using their lower arms to walk or "amble" along the sea floor while rhythmically waving the wide protective membranes on their arms.[2] This behavior may advertise a poisonous or distasteful nature.[3] The flesh of this cuttlefish is poisonous, containing a unique toxin.[1]
Reproduction
Copulation occurs face-to-face, with the male inserting a packet of sperm into a pouch on the underside of the female's mantle. The female then fertilises her eggs with the sperm. The eggs are laid singly and placed by the female in crevices or ledges in coral, rock, or wood. In one instance, around a dozen eggs were found under an overturned coconut half. They had been placed there by a female which had inserted them through the central hole of the husk. As such, the eggs were protected from predatory fish.[2][3]
Freshly laid eggs are white, but slowly turn translucent with time, making the developing cuttlefish clearly visible. From birth, juvenile M. pfefferi are capable of the same camouflage patterns as adults.[2][3]
Commercial value
A toxicology report has found and confirmed that the muscle tissue of flamboyant cuttlefish is highly toxic, making it only the third cephalopod found to be toxic. Research by Mark Norman with the Museum Victoria in Queensland, Australia, has shown the toxin to be as lethal as that of fellow cephalopod the blue-ringed octopus.[1]
M. pfefferi represents no interest to fisheries as food for the above reason. If its supply were steady, the spectacular colour and textural displays of this species would make it an excellent candidate for private aquariums.[2]
References
- ^ a b c NOVA, 2007. Cuttlefish: Kings of Camouflage. [television program] NOVA, PBS, April 3, 2007. (Transcript)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Reid, A., P. Jereb, & C.F.E. Roper 2005. Family Sepiidae. In: P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 57–152.
- ^ a b c d e Norman, M.D. 2000. Cephalopods: A World Guide. ConchBooks.
- ^ Latitude and Longitude Data for Metasepia pfefferi
- ^ Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda
- ^ Okutani, T. 1995. Cuttlefish and squids of the world in color. Publication for the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the National Cooperative Association of Squid Processors.
- Ross, R. 2010. Aquarium Invertebrates: Metasepia pfefferi – the aptly named Flamboyant Cuttlefish. Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine.
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