Sepia papillata is a species of cuttlefish native to the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Indian Ocean.

Its natural range stretches from Lüderitz Bay, South Africa (26°11′S 15°10′E / 26.183°S 15.167°E / -26.183; 15.167), to the coast of KwaZulu-Natal off the Tugela and Umvoti Rivers (29°11′S 31°25′E / 29.183°S 31.417°E / -29.183; 31.417).

It lives at depths of between 26 and 210 m.[3] Sepia papillata grows to a mantle length of 140 mm.

[3] The type specimen was collected near the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

It is deposited at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.