[4] The type specimen was collected off the Australian coast and is deposited at The Natural History Museum in London.

[5] Cuttlefish generally share many similar anatomical structures and it can be hard to distinguish between different species in certain situations.

Major body parts such as reproductive systems, digestive organs and the gills are contained in the mantle (a muscular bag) at the posterior portion of the animal.

The funnel can be pointed in different directions allowing for movement forward and backward away from predators or towards prey.

[9] Common prey of S. mestus and other cuttlefish include different species of shrimp, crab, and young fish.

[6] Sepia mestus and most other species of cuttlefish can also alter skin texture to blend in with their environment.

They push up specialized flaps of skin called papillae to match shapes of rock, coral, and seaweed.

When a cuttlefish contracts the rings of muscle around the base of the papillae in different ways, the flaps rise accordingly, changing the appearance of the animal.

[11] All cuttlefish, including S. mestus, disperse their eggs by attachment to the sea floor, usually on or under hard surfaces such as rock and coral.

[13] Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause ocean acidification and are potentially a threat to all cuttlefish species.