scubaseason

Pharaoh Cuttlefish

Sepia pharaonis

Sighting evidence at Bandar Khayran, Muscat

The Arabian Sea's largest cuttlefish, frequently encountered patrolling the reef edge at Bandar Khayran where it ambushes crabs and small fish with lightning-fast tentacle strikes. Males display rapid chromatic rippling patterns to court females and warn rival males during the cooler breeding season. Their internal cuttlebone provides buoyancy control with extraordinary precision.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Pharaoh Cuttlefish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.