Reef Cuttlefish

Sepia latimanus

The reef cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus), also known as the broadclub cuttlefish, is the largest tropical cuttlefish species, reaching up to 50 cm mantle length and 10 kg. It has a broad, flattened body with undulating lateral fins, W-shaped pupils, and remarkable color-changing ability through millions of chromatophore cells. Found across the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to Australia, it inhabits coral reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy areas at depths of 0 to 30 meters. This intelligent predator uses mesmerizing pulsating color displays to hypnotize prey before striking with its tentacles. During mating season, males perform spectacular competitive displays, alternating between aggressive patterns toward rivals and gentle patterns toward females. It is the most commonly encountered cuttlefish species on Indo-Pacific coral reefs and one of the most intelligent invertebrates that divers can interact with.