Reproductive Biology of the Common Cuttlefish Sepia officinalis L. (Sepiida: Cephalopoda) in the Aegean Sea

The common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is known as one of the economically important species in the classis Cephalopoda. In this study, from October 2000 to April 2002, 674 cuttlefish were collected monthly from the surroundings of Homa lagoon (in the Aegean Sea). In order to determine reproductive behaviors and spawning season of S. officinalis species, the gonad stages of both sexes and the seasonal gonadosomatic index values were determined. It was observed that the spawning period of S. officinalis covers the whole year with two maximum peaks in March and June.