Effect of sex on tentacular club development and relationships with feeding efficiency and growth in Sepia orbignyana (Cephalopoda, Sepiidae)

The relationships between tentacle club length and body size (mantle length , weight) and between stomach content weight and body weight were examined in 52 males and 71 females of Sepia orbignyana caught in the South Adriatic Sea. Females have longer clubs and are more effective than males in foragi ng, i.e. they ingest larger food quantities both in terms of weight and num ber of prey. Since food intake is a most important factor regulating cephal opod growth and since cuttlefish-catch their prey using the tentacle clubs, a cause-effect relationship between club size and body growth rate is sugg ested.