Dwarf Bobtail

Overview

The dwarf bobtail (Sepiola rondeletii) is a small bobtail squid from the Mediterranean Sea and the nearby eastern Atlantic. It belongs to the order Sepiolida, a group of short-bodied cephalopods that are closely related to cuttlefish and squid.

Distribution & habitat

It is found throughout the Mediterranean, including the Aegean, Adriatic and Levantine Seas and the Sea of Marmara. Older sources give its Atlantic range as the North Sea to Senegal. A later genetic study suggests the northern Atlantic records are inaccurate and that the species occurs only near the Strait of Gibraltar. It lives on sandy and muddy bottoms and is described as common in Posidonia seagrass beds. Most records are from shallow water, but a few come from much deeper.

Appearance

Females are noticeably larger than males. Females usually have a mantle length of about 40–50 mm, while males stay much smaller.

Feeding

It feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.

Biology & behavior

The species lives on or just above the seabed. It is taken locally for human food. The IUCN lists it as Data Deficient, so its population trend is unknown.