Main Ref.	Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney and C.E. Nauen, 1984
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis	Mantle about half as broad as long; tentacular club long, slender with 10-12 minute, subequal suckers in each row across the club in males, 13-14 suckers across in females, club protective membranes not united, extending proximally along oral face of stalk as lo ridges, Left arm IV hectocotylized: about 12 normal suckers (3 series) proximally followed by about 5 or 6 series of very small suckers in ventral longitudinal rows, corresponding suckers of dorsal longitudinal rows extremely minute (or absent) in a deep, smooth groove, suckers normal distally, Color: dorsal mantle with a fine, dark-pigmented, transverse, reticulate color pattern, a pale reflective line along bases of fins (Ref. 275).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Sepia aculeata

Lateral Lines	Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No.	Dorsal
	Ventral
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral	Attributes
	spines
	soft-rays
Pelvics	Attributes
	Position
	spines
	soft-rays