Indian Cephalopod Resources: Distribution, Commercial Exploitation, Utilization and Trade

Abstract

Cephalopods are purely marine in habitat, and there are about 600 living species. They are considered as the fastest marine invertebrates. The cuttlefishes come under the order Sepioidea and are characterized by the presence of a shell (chitinous or calcareous), 10 circum oral appendages and the tentacles are retractile into pockets. Suckers have chitinous rings. Posterior fin lobes are free and not connected at midline. The cuttlebone is internal and located dorsally underneath the skin.