The Reef Cuttlefish, Sepia latimanus, is very common in the northern Great Barrier Reefs but a trained eye is needed to find them. Throughout the cooler months cuttlefish are found in the deeper reef waters being relatively inactive during the day until during the warmer months when they are often in the shallows laying eggs and mating amongst the larger coral colonies. 

Throughout the year the incidence and location of cuttlefish are recorded. Sites of cuttlefish egg colonies are identified and egg numbers and development are monitored. Records of the development through the transparent egg cases give an amazing opportunity to see the developing animal. The seasonal aspects of cuttlefish movements are noted to give an understanding of mating, laying and overall lifestages of this very short-lived animal.

Behaviour of cuttlefish is recorded on digital video for analysis of mating behaviour and patterns of behaviour both daily and seasonally. Due to their excellent capacity for colour and texture change cuttlefish are virtually impossible to identify individually. We will be working on tagging individuals for identification and in order to follow movement patterns and life history – this is not so easy for a soft bodied and delicate animal like Sepia.