298 
C.C. Lu, A. Reid 
Figure 18 A-B, Sepia sulcata Hoyle; A, funnel organ, 
female MV F56919, 96.2 mm ML, scale bar 2 
mm; B, funnel-locking cartilage (left), and 
mantle-locking cartilage (right), male MV 
F56919, 65.9 mm ML, scale bar 2 mm; C, 
diagram of mantle, ventral view showing 
position of ventrolateral ridges (VLR). 
(WAM 339-86); 1M (45.7 mm ML) 5F (45.1-61.3 
mm ML), NW of Cape Leveque, 15°11.1'S 
121°26.9'E - 15°12.9'S 121°25.7'E, 260-258 m, 17 Feb 
1984, coll. S. Slack-Smith on RV "Soela", (WAM 
341-86); 5F (35.9-56.9 mm ML), North West Shelf, 
18°10'S 118°18'E - 18°10'S 118°23'E, 300-298 m, 10 
May 1982, coll. RV "Courageous", (MV F65584); 
2M (65.9, 67.6 mm ML) 2F (86.6, 96.2 mm ML), 
North West Shelf, 18°49'S 117°41’E, 168-166 m, 6 
May 1983, coll. RV "Soela", (MV F56919); IF (90.6 
mm ML), North West Shelf, 18°36'S 118°2'E, 184- 
182 m, 6 Jun 1983, coll. RV "Soela", (MV F56918); 
1M (38.5 mm ML) 2F (54.5, 64.1 mm ML), off Port 
Headland, 18°41’S 117°54'E - 18°41'S 117°52.6'E, 
404 m, 2 Apr 1982, coll. L. Marsh on RV "Soela", 
(WAM 3103-83); 1M (62.8 mm ML) 2F (61.5, 67.2 
mm ML), off Port Headland, 18°54'S 117°02'E - 
18°55.5'S 117°00'E, 306-300 m, 13 Apr 1982, L. 
Marsh on RV "Soela", (WAM 3102-83); IF (85.7 
mm ML), N of Monte Bello Is., 19°58’S 115°13'E, 
180-150 m, 10 May 1978, coll. RV "Courageous", 
(WAM 3100-83) . 
Diagnosis 
Sucker rows on arms 1-3 in males biserial 
proximally (approximately 8-11 rows biserial 
suckers arms 1, 6-8 rows biserial suckers arms 2 
and 3), tetraserial distally; suckers arms 4 biserial 
proximally (approximately 2 rows), tetraserial 
distally. Sucker rows on arms 1-3 in females 
biserial proximally for 6-7 rows, tetraserial 
distally, suckers on arms 4 biserial proximally for 
2-3 rows, rest tetraserial. Distal arm tips strongly 
attenuate. A thick, cartilaginous sub-dermal layer 
adheres closely to dorsal side of cuttlebone. 
Cuttlebone oblong, strongly acuminate, acute 
anteriorly and posteriorly. Dorsal median and 
lateral ribs present, distinct. Sulcus shallow, 
narrow, flanked by prominent rounded ribs 
bordered laterally by shallow grooves. Inner cone 
limbs form narrow, raised ledge posteriorly. Left 
ventral arm hectocotylised: proximally 14 rows 
(approximately) of greatly reduced suckers; 2 
dorsal and 2 ventral series widely spaced; in 
mature males, oral surface wide, fleshy with deep 
longitudinal furrow between swollen protective 
membranes. Tentacular clubs with 5-7 small, 
subequal suckers in transverse rows; dorsal and 
ventral protective membranes not fused at base of 
club. Dorsal mantle with up to 10 short, 
longitudinal, orange-pink ridges along each side 
close to fins; ventral mantle with 6 (3 long and 3 
short) longitudinal ridges along each side close to 
fins. Small to moderate sized species, maximum 
size up to approximately 100 mm ML. 
Description 
Counts and indices for individual specimens are 
given in Table 7-8; ranges for arm length indices, 
arm sucker diameter indices and arm sucker 
counts are shown in Table 9. 
Small to moderate sized species; ML males 42.9- 
55.7- 67.6 mm (SD, 8.1), females 61.3- 74.6 -96.2 mm 
(SD, 13.5). Mantle very slender, obovate; MWI 
males 40.4- 45.3 -51.7 (SD, 2.9), females 39.3- 45.0 - 
51.6 (SD, 4.2); markedly attenuate posteriorly, 
tapers to point (Figure 17A,B); dorsal anterior 
margin triangular, acute (Figure 17A); projects 
anteriorly beyond eyes; AMHI males 12.8 -14.6 - 
16.6 (SD, 1.1), females 12.5-14.7-16.2 (SD, 1.2). 
Ventral mantle margin emarginate, without distinct 
lateral angle; VMLI males 81.2- 86.9 -95.8 (SD, 4.4), 
females 69.8- 83.5 -88.7 (SD, 5.7). Fins widest in 
posterior third; FWI males 5.8-8.6-11.2 (SD, 1.7), 
females 5.0-8.6-11.1 (SD, 2.1); anterior origin 
posterior to mantle margm; Flla males 5.1-6.8-8.9 
(SD, 1.2), females 2.5-5^-8.7 (SD, 2.0); rounded 
posteriorly; narrow gap between fins; Flip males 
6.8-82-9.8 (SD, 1.0), females 4.1-&8-9.2 (SD, 1.7). 
Funnel long, broad-based; extends to anterior rim 
of eye; FuLI males 23.9-29.4-32.6 (SD, 3.2), females 
26.4- 29.9 -31.8 (SD, 1.9). Funnel free portion 
approximately half funnel length, FFul males 8.8- 
122-18.8 (SD, 2.7), females 26.4-29.9-31.8 (SD, 1.9). 
Funnel organ dorsal elements inverted V-shape 
with small papilla in front; ventral elements oval 
(Figure 18A). Mantle-locking cartilage curved, with 
semicircular ridge; funnel-locking cartilage with 
