This is an egg cluster of cuttlefish Sepia sp. What is the size of an individual capsule?

i think it is a cuttlefish egg cluster

But eggs of Sepia sp. area completely black in colors Dr. Deepak.

Some species have white eggs. The Pharaoh's cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis I worked for my Ph.D has totally white eggs. A link is below

http://cmfri.org.in/event-details.php?event_id=93 

The egg mass of Sepiella inermis is black. No black Sepia eggs in Indian waters.

Sepia officinalis has black eggs

Yes Sepia officials has black eggs but i read in a popular site that the eggs fertilized by the male, change colour, becoming darker … but i don't have the scientific reply and suppose that is another species.

In the case of Sepia pharaonis (the species I worked for my PhD) there is no colour change even after fertilization. You can see the development of paralarava clearly  (tranparent) through the egg capsule. I am also attaching 3 development papers published by me for 3 species namely Sepia pharaonis, Sepiella inermis and the squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana for more information.

Thank you Dr Deepak. Roberto Ardovini.

Dear Roberto, 

As many colleagues said before, Sepia officinalis normally have black eggs. And that is totally true, however they can also lay eggs whithout black (melanin) coloration.

During the time I worked with S. officinalis I observed females laying totally white and yellow eggs. yellow exactly as in the picture. These eggs are normally considered inviable eggs.

Is difficult to be sure that the eggs in the picture belong to a specific species, however, I can certify you that they may belong to S. offcinalis females.

My advice to you would be to hatch them and verify the species. Let us know after the result. 

Please see the attached photos of yellow S. officinalis eggs :-) 

Best regards

Rui

Dear Dr. Rui,

it is interesting with a new insight to understand that S. officinalis also lay eggs not black but either white or yellow (the pigment issue). Were they cultured in your laboratory? I had inviable eggs from Sepiella inermis. It had black colour but the perivitelline fluid dried up real fast shrinking the developing embryo.

Thanks for the information!

Best regards

Deepak

Thank you Dr. Rui and Dr. Deepak for your interest in this question.

Now my ideas are more clearer. Roberto.

Dear Deepak

Those eggs in the picture was from S. Officinalis kept in captivity In our lab.

They were not viable eggs, despite the good look and shape.

Best regards 

Rui

Thanks a lot for the information Dr Rui...