A Common Cuttlefish Sepia officinalis Linnaeus 1758 from
Wrabness Beach
W.H. George 11 Sterry Road, Barking, Essex IG11 9SJ
Graham Ward, the Club's Geological Recorder, and I often walk along stretches of the
Essex coast examining the local geology. On Saturday 22nd May 2004, while strolling
along the beach at Wrabness on the southern shore of the tidal river Stour estuary looking
at the cliff and foreshore for exposures of Eocene London Clay and Pleistocene (Stage
7) brickearth, we found a cuttlefish stranded high and dry on the gravel beach (TM 1660
3217).
We are both very familiar with the characteristic white calcareous cuttle-bones, which
are commonly found washed up at the top of the beach with other flotsam. These light
brittle "bones", which vary in length from about 6"-12" arc also to be seen for sale in pet
shops. They are normally clamped to or wedged between the bars of birdcages for budgies
and other exotic birds to clean and sharpen their beaks on. Cuttlefish "bones" are also
occasionally used by amateur silversmiths to make simple moulds for silver casting.
The cuttle-bone is the internal shell and is normally all that is found after the creature
has decayed.
The specimen was found towards the top of the beach at TM 16603217 (GPS). It was in
a good fresh condition and had evidently been recently stranded by the ebbing tide. The
cuttlefish measured 28cm (11.5") in length, 14cm (5.5") in width and 8cm (3") in height.
The arms were missing.
A cursory glance at back copies of the Essex Naturalist gave a few interesting earlier
records as follows:
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 45, September 2004 9