Sepia cultrata Hoyle 1885

Sepia cultrata Hoyle, 1885

Glyptosepia gemellus Iredale, 1926a:192. [Holotype, AM C133306, 87 mm SL (92 mm including spine), Manly Beach, NSW (33°48′S, 151°17′E).]

Glyptosepia macilenta Iredale, 1926a:192. [Holotype, AM C133305, 83.5 mm SL (90 mm including spine), Manly Beach, NSW (33°48′S, 151°17′E).]

DIAGNOSIS.—Anterior dorsal mantle margin strongly projected beyond level of eye opening; ventral margin slightly emarginate. Strong swimming membrane about 1 times length of tentacular club. Dorsal protective membrane as wide as sucker-bearing surface of club and separated from ventral protective membrane at base. Club suckers small, subequal, in 5 to 6 longitudinal series (Figure 7a). Arm suckers quadriserial. Left arm IV of male hectocotylized; suckers on basal and distal of arm normal, 2 dorsal series of median arm suckers greatly reduced in size.

Sepion (Figure 7b,c) elongate-oval, attaining greatest width anterior of middle, anterior end triangular, posterior end acuminate and narrow. Dorsal surface color cream or salmon, flat anteriorly, with distinct, narrow median rib and 2 indistinct lateral ribs. Ventral surface flat, extreme posterior striated zone concave, anteriorly slightly convex; striae slightly convex. Limbs of inner cone very narrow, rounded ridges; posterior part forming slightly longer ledge surrounding posterior excavation. Outer cone narrow anteriorly, wider posteriorly, continuous between inner cone and spine. Spine without keels, turned upward, sometimes slightly curved with concave ventral side.

ORIGINAL REFERENCE.—Hoyle, 1885:198.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Off Twofold Bay, Australia, H.M.S. Challenger sta 163A (36°59′S, 150°20′E), 150 fathoms (274.5 m).

TYPE.—Holotype: BMNH 1889.4.24.75, by monotypy, female specimen in alcohol, 84 mm ML. Not examined.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Australia from southern Qld (26°35′S, 153°45′E) to Houtman Abrolhos, WA (28°49′S, 114°04′E), including Tas (42°43′S, 148°22′E), at depths of 132–803 m, with majority of catches at 300–500 m.