Sepia hedleyi Berry 1918

Sepia rex (Iredale, 1926)

Decorisepia rex Iredale, 1926a:193. [Holotype, AM C127593, 107 mm SL (113.3 mm including spine), Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW (33°48′S, 151°17′E).]

Decorisepia cottesloensis Cotton, 1929:90. [Holotype, SAM D13681, 40 mm SL (43 mm including spine), Cottesloe, WA.]

Decorisepia jaenschi Cotton, 1931:41. [Holotype, SAM D10163, 97 mm SL (101 mm including spine), Robe, SA (37°10′S, 139°45′E).]

DIAGNOSIS.—Anterior dorsal mantle margin acutely projected, reaching midlevel of eyes; ventral margin slightly emarginate. Swimming membrane of tentacular club (Figure 22a) extended slightly beyond base of club. Protective membranes separate at base of club. Club suckers minute, subequal in size, in approximately 10–12 longitudinal series at middle of club. Arm suckers quadriserial. Left arm IV of male hectocotylized, suckers on basal and distal of arm normal, quadriserial, those in middle greatly reduced in size, suckers sparse and widely spaced, giving appearance of being only 2 to 3 series.

Sepion (Figure 22b–g) elongate-oval, narrow anteriorly, width 50% of length. Dorsal surface pustulose, with 3 ribs, median rib rounded, prominent, lateral ribs rounded, divergent, less distinct; most of outer cone occupied by large, chitinous margin around sepion. Ventral surface slightly swollen anteriorly, with shallow median groove along entire length of sepion. Striated zone long, StrZI over 70; striae rounded. Inner cone V-shaped, long limbs narrow, raised, prominent. Spine pointed slightly upward, round, without keel.

ORIGINAL REFERENCE.—Iredale, 1926a:193, pl. 22: figs. 9, 10.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Manly Beach, NSW (33°48′S, 151°17′E).

TYPE.—Holotype: AM C127593, by original designation, sepion only, 107 mm SL (Figure 22b,c).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Australia from southern Qld (22°35′S, 153°46′E) to the Great Australian Bight (33°17′S, 127°44′E), including Tas (southernmost record 43°38′S, 147°49′E), at depths of 55–400 m.

Sepia hedleyi Berry, 1918

DIAGNOSIS.—Mantle with anterior dorsal margin conspicuous, triangular, projected, reaching level of anterior margin of eyes; ventral margin evenly emarginate below funnel, forming distinct angle at each side of funnel base. Tentacular club (Figure 10a) with numerous minute suckers of subequal size in 12 series. Arm suckers quadriserial, those of inner series larger than those of marginal series. Left arm IV hectocotylized; suckers in basal and distal of arm normal, quadriserial, those in middle greatly reduced in size and in 3 series only.

Sepion poorly known. Reconstructed sepion (Figure 10b) shows large chitinous margin and striated zone. LocLI 25–26. Striae nearly straight.

ORIGINAL REFERENCE.—Berry, 1918:258, figs. 48–50, pls. 71, 72.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Investigator Strait area (35°25′S, 137°22′E), south of Kangaroo Island (35°50′S, 137°15′E), SA.

TYPE.—Holotype: AM E2464, by original designation, male specimen in alcohol, 81 mm ML (Figure 10c). No sepion.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Great Australian Bight, S.A.

Sepia dannevigi Berry, 1918

DIAGNOSIS.—Anterior dorsal mantle margin broad, conspicuous, triangular; ventral margin slightly emarginate below funnel. Swimming membrane of tentacular club extended beyond base of club. Tentacular club small, flattened, suckers numerous and minute in 10–12 longitudinal series at middle of club (Figure 8b). Arm suckers quadriserial throughout. Known only from 3 females; hectocotylized arm unknown.

Sepion unknown.

ORIGINAL REFERENCE.—Berry, 1918:264, figs. 51–54, pl. 73, pl. 74: figs. 1, 2.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Investigator Strait area (35°25′S, 137°22′E), south of Kangaroo Island, SA (35°50′S, 137°15′E), F.I.S. Endeavour sta E2466.

TYPE.—Holotype: AM 2466, by original designation, female specimen in alcohol, 82 mm ML (Figure 8a). Sepion missing.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from the original description of material collected from F.I.S. Endeavour; Investigator Strait area, south of Kangaroo Island, SA, and between Cape Naturaliste (33°32′S, 115°01′E) and Geraldton, WA (28°46′S, 114°37′E), in 20–100 fathoms (36.6–183 m).

Sepia hedleyi, or Hedley's cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish in the family Sepiidae, endemic to subtropical and temperate waters off Australia.