Detailed Description and Morphological Assessment of Sepia typica (Steenstrup, 1875) (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae)

Abstract

A detailed systematic account of Sepia (Hemisepius) typica, an endemic southern African species of cuttlefish, is presented. An analysis of morphological data (morphometric and meristic characters) suggests that S. typica is a single well-established species without morphs or subspecies. It is, however, highly variable, perhaps more so than other small sepiids from the region, and there are slight, but significant indications of population structure. Therefore, molecular biological studies based upon a large sample could help investigate broad genetic patterns in what morphologically appears to be a single highly variable species.