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The early life of Sepia officinalis, and the contrast with that of Octopus vulgaris (Cephalopoda)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1998

Marion Nixon  and
Katharina Mangold
Marion Nixon
Affiliation:
Research School of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Birkbeck College & University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
Katharina Mangold
Affiliation:
Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Laboratoire Arago, F-66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
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Abstract

The egg and hatchling of Sepia officinalis L. is relatively large, compared with those of other cephalopods. We review the information on growth, chromatophores, behaviour, prey capture, colour and body patterns of this sepiid, for correlation with changes in morphology and development of its central nervous system. We compare the early life of S. officinalis with that of the common octopod, Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier 1797. Sepia officinalis is initially benthopelagic but subsequently is mostly benthic in habit. Octopus vulgaris enters the plankton immediately after hatching and spends several weeks there before it settles to a life spent mostly on the bottom.

Keywords

Sepiahatchlingbehaviourbrainmorphology
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 245 , Issue 4 , August 1998 , pp. 407 - 421
Copyright
1998 The Zoological Society of London

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