Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

ccurrence of two cuttlefish species, Aurosepina arabica and Erythalassa trygonina, in the northwestern coast of India

Volume 67 Issue 1

Devendra J. Solanki, S. Ragul, V. M. Chavda and J. B. Solanki

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2025.67.1.2543-17

Abstract

The paper reports the occurrence of the Arabian cuttlefish, Aurosepina arabica (Massy, 1916), and trident cuttlefish, Erythalassa trygonina (Rochebrune, 1884), in the coastal waters off Veraval, in the northern Arabian Sea, India. Cuttlefish species of the family Sepiidae can be easily differentiated by the cuttlebone morphology. Among them, the unique genus Aurosepina has the anteriorly widest, posteriorly very narrow, and spine absent. In contrast, the genus Erythalassa has a narrow bone, outer limbs expanded, forming two wing-like expansions, and spine present. The present study provides detailed taxonomic information on morphological characteristics and fresh images.

Keywords

Arabian Sea, distribution, Gujarat, range expansion

Date : 12-06-2025