I think it is positively a Cephalopod, judging from the contour, it perhaps a kind of Sepia. BTW, is that a fossil?
Hello Lennart - yes it's a sepion. By dimensions could be a Sepia esculenta, a very common japanise species
Thank you Norma and Gianluigi! Norma, I think this is not a fossil. But I am not a specialist and it's hard to tell from photo. I you want I can check the item itself.
Hi Lenart
there are 3 species of common cuttlefish recorded in Japan. Sepia esculenta, S. officianlis and a spineless cuttlefish Sepilella japonica.. SInce the posterior shell part is broken, its a bit difficult to say. But 100% this is a sepion (cuttle bone)
best regards
Deepak
It is a cuttlebone of a Sepia for sure and it does not look like a fossil. After a cuttlefish dies its cuttlebone will float and will be taken up by surface currents. At the right side (the posterior part) some pieces are missing. Probably some bird or fish needed some calcium supply.
Ha ha Dr. Moorsel, you are right.. here in India, hanging cuttlebone in the cages of domesticated love birds is quite common!! and yes, I have seen some shore birds pecking away on the inner part of the sepion which is softer than the dorsal side!
Hi Deepak, we use them in the Netherlands for caged canaries as well!😊
Nibbling at the sides of the sepion by birds is maybe not expected. Perhaps a juvenile sea turtle?
This is definitely Sepia bone but difficult to identify upto species level unless clear dorsal and Ventral images, Hope you can reload the images again
Dr.Sethi
For me is impossible to identify with security the species ... very bad conditions.
I suggest you to write only: "Sepia" s.l. sp.
Dear Mr.Gianluigi,
This is a cuttle fish bone , Sepia is the genus but species naming would require complete ventral and dorsal images of cuttle bone, Hope author can again upload images again and i am unable to see or download it, All the Best
Dr.Sethi
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology