Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Rare observation of scar-bearing cuttlebone in a wild-caught Sepia pharaonis (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae) from southeastern Arabian Sea 

Volume 62 Issue 1

V. Venkatesan, K. K. Sajikumar, P. S. Alloycious, K. M. Jestin Joy and K. S. Mohamed

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2020.62.1.2128-19

Abstract

A rare observation of the severely fractured cum healing cuttlebone of wild-caught Sepia pharaonis is reported and discussed here. The observation showed that cuttlebone of one specimen was severely affected by scars. Scars were interpreted as oval-shaped teeth marks on the dorsal side having a diameter of 23 mm. Several other teeth marks (3-4 numbers) were also observed at the anterodorsal region. Fracture was completely healed at the dorsal side while fracture (19 mm length) was notable in posteroventral region. Inverted ‘V’shaped blackline was also observed on the posteroventral region. However, scar-bearing cuttlebones was more or less symmetrical with respect to the sagittal plane.

Keywords

Scar-bearing cuttlebone, Sepia pharaonis, southeastern Arabian Sea

Date : 00-00-0000