Bigfin Reef Squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana with Egg Capsules on Boie Rope、レンベ海峡、インドネシアの写真素材

Bigfin Reef Squids are easy to distinguish from other squids in that they possess thick and muscular oval fins that extend around almost the entire mantle. Because of these fins, bigfin reef squids are sometimes mistaken for cuttlefish. The bigfin reef squid is the most widespread species in the genus Sepioteuthis. It is found in temperate and tropical regions of the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean. At night, when the Bigfin Reef Squids are most active, they are commonly found in shallow areas from 0-100m around reefs, sea grass beds, sandy bottoms, or rocky shorelines. They surface at night, as it is less likely to be detected by predators. During the day, they generally move to deeper waters or near any form of cover, such as floating driftwood, reefs, rocks, or grasses. Squids have speedy colour-changing abilities as their pigment cells, the chromatophores, rapidly change size and colour and the visual effect is enhanced by light reflecting cells, the iridocytes. They can shoot ink (dark melanin pigment) to confuse predators and aide in escapes. This specimen laid egg capsules on a boie rope. Lembeh Strait, Indonesia 1°28'8.9165 N 125°14'39.1048 E at 16m depth