Australian cuttlefishes (Cephalopoda : Sepiidae): the 'doratosepion' species complex

Abstract

Three cuttlefish belonging to the ‘doratosepion’ species complex (Sepia braggi Verco, 1907, S. cottoni Adam, 1979 and S. vercoi Adam, 1979) were recognised in the most recent review of the Australian Sepiidae (Lu 1998). Five additional species are recorded here for the Australian fauna, S. bidhaia, sp. nov., S. koilados, sp. nov. and S. tanybracheia, sp. nov., together with two species previously known only from cuttlebones (and, therefore, of uncertain status), S. limata (Iredale, 1926a) and S. rhoda (Iredale, 1954). Sepia braggi and S. vercoi are also redescribed. A key to these eight species, and a table of diagnostic characters for all ‘doratosepion’ species are provided.