Sepia elliptica Hoyle 1885

Sepia elliptica Hoyle, 1885

Acanthosepion ellipticum adjacens Iredale, 1926b:239. [Holotype, AM C133302, 98.7 mm SL (103.7 mm including spine), North-West Islet, Qld (23°18′S, 151°42′E).]

DIAGNOSIS.—Mantle broadly oval, broadest from anterior margin, narrowing posteriorly; anterior dorsal margin produced, reaching midlevel of eye; ventral margin slightly emarginate. Swimming membrane extended beyond base of club. Protective membranes separated at base of club in smaller specimens, fused in large specimens; connected at base of club by a membranous ridge so that club is distinctly separable from tentacular stalk. Median tentacular club suckers (Figure 9a) in 10–12 longitudinal series; suckers minute, subequal in size. Arm suckers quadriserial, no sexual dimorphism in sucker size detected. Left arm IV of male hectocotylized, basal 7 to 8 rows of suckers normal, followed by 7 rows of modified suckers distally, 2 ventral suckers in each row slightly smaller, whereas 2 dorsal suckers on distal arm normal.

Sepion (Figure 9b,c) oval, acuminate anteriorly, slightly broader posteriorly, broadest from anterior end, gradually narrowing posteriorly. Dorsal surface granulose, with broad median rib; median rib separated by 2 depressions from 2 lateral ribs, each lateral rib flanked by another depression along outer side. Ventral surface with shallow sulcus. Striated area concave, StrZI about 70 in mature specimens; striae arched. Limbs of inner cone large, posterior inner cone raised as flat, thin ledge with thickened rim. Outer cone large, posterolateral edges slightly flared. Spine slightly pointed upward, without keels.

ORIGINAL REFERENCE.—Hoyle, 1885:189.

TYPE LOCALITIES.—H.M.S. Challenger sta 188 (9°59′S, 139°42′E), Arafura Sea, South of Papua, 28 fathoms (53 m). H.M.S. Challenger sta 190 (8°56′S, 136°5′E), Arafura Sea, South of Papua, 49 fathoms (89.7 m).

TYPES.—Syntypes: BMNH 1889.4.24.71–72, 1 male, 44 mm SL, 1 female, 72 mm SL (sta 188) (fide Hoyle, 1886; Adam and Rees, 1966); BMNH 1889.4.24.73–74, 1 male, 72 mm ML, 1 female, 54 mm ML (sta 190). Animals in alcohol (fide Adam and Rees, 1966); not examined.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Indo-West Pacific; Northern Australia from Exmouth Gulf, WA (22°23′S, 114°06′E), to Capricorn Group, Qld (23°30′S, 152°00′E), including Gulf of Carpentaria, at depths of 16–142 m.