National Resource Center for Cephalopods

Tompsett's (1939) detailed illustrations of anatomy and morphology of Sepia officinalis. 24 plates, 81 figures with figure captions. 

Below each Plate # is a listing of the Figures present on that plate and brief description of the Figures. Clicking on the plate # will bring up a High Resolution image of the plate and figure captions that might take a few minutes to load on a 28-56k modem connection. Alternatively you can click on the Thumbnail tag to see a small version of the plate and decide if you want to view the Hi-Res version.

Plate 1            Thumbnail

Fig. 1.  S. officinalis swimming.

Fig. 2.  In pursuit of a shrimp.

Fig. 3.  Male specimen: ventral view.

Fig. 4.  Male specimen: dorsal view.

Plate 2            Thumbnail

Fig. 5. Mantle cavity of male specimen.

Plate 3            Thumbnail

Fig. 6. Mantle cavity of female specimen.

Plate 4            Thumbnail

Fig. 7.  Anterior view of mouth and arms of female specimen.

Fig. 8.  Section through skin.

Fig. 9.  Surface view of skin; on dorsal mantle.

Fig. 10. Diagram of a single chromatophore.

Fig. 11.  Right tentacle.

Fig. 12.  Hectocotylised arm of male.

Fig. 13. Optical section through typical sucker on arm 3.

Fig. 14. Surface view of mouth of typical sucker.

Plate 5            Thumbnail

Fig. 15. The shell of a male specimen: ventral view.

Fig. 16. Median optical section through the shell.

Fig. 17. Median section through the posterior part of the shell.

Fig. 18. Some of the septa of the dorsal part of the phragmocone.

Fig. 19. Part of a shell in which part of the dorsal surface has been broken away.

Plate 6            Thumbnail

Fig. 20. Dissection of the coelomic cavities of a male specimen.

Plate7            Thumbnail

Fig. 21. The viscero-pericardial coelom, and the dorsal chamber of the renal sac.

Fig. 22. Diagram of the viscero-pericardial coelom and the renal sac.

Plate 8            Thumbnail

Fig. 23. Dissection of the muscles of the funnel.

Fig. 24. Transverse section through the neck and mantle.

Plate 9            Thumbnail

Fig. 25. Ventral dissection of the muscular system.

Fig. 26. Cephalic cartilage: posterior view.

Fig. 27. Cephalic and brachial cartilages: ventral view.

Fig. 28. View of the right orbit of the cephalic cartilage.

Fig. 29. Anterior view of the cephalic and brachial cartilages.

Plate 10            Thumbnail

Fig. 30. Transverse section of the left fin.

Fig. 31. Mesial view of the left fin cartilage.

Fig. 32. Dorsal dissection of the back.

Fig. 33. Ventral view of the diaphragm cartilage.

Fig. 34. Dorsal view of the nuchal cartilage.

Fig. 35. Ventral view of the dorsal cartilage.

Plate 11            Thumbnail

Fig. 36. Ventral view of the digestive system.

Plate 12            Thumbnail

Fig. 37. Dorsal dissection of the buccal mass.

Fig. 38. Dorsal view of the dorsal jaw.

Fig. 39. The anterior part of the radula: posterolateral view.

Fig. 40. Transverse section through the anterior part of the radula.

Fig. 41. Transverse section through the radula.

Fig. 42. Three rows of radula teeth. (After Naef.).

Fig. 43. Longitudinal section through the inksac, and rectum.

Fig. 44. The jaws: lateral view.

Fig. 45. Part of a single lamina from the wall of the spiral caecum.

Fig. 46. Stomach and caecum opened, to show the gross structure.

Plate 13            Thumbnail

Fig. 47. Diagram of the arterial system: ventral view.

Plate 14            Thumbnail

Fig. 48. Diagram of the venous system: ventral view.

Plate 15            Thumbnail

Fig. 49. Optical section through the anterior half of the animal.

Plate 16            Thumbnail

Fig. 50. Transverse section through arm Number 3.

Fig. 5I. Transverse section through one of the tentacles.

Fig. 52. The systemic heart: ventral view.

Fig. 53. A portion of one branchiae.

Fig. 54. Mesial view of the right branchial heart.

Plate 17            Thumbnail

Fig. 55. Dorsal view of the nervous system.

Plate 18            Thumbnail

Fig. 56. Lateral view of the brain and nerves.

Plate 19            Thumbnail

Fig. 57. Dorsal view of the central nervous system and nerves that emerge from it.

Fig. 58. Dorsal view of the central nervous system, to show grooves separating the visceral, pedal and brachial ganglia.

Plate 20            Thumbnail

Fig. 59. Dorsal view of the left eye afterorbit has been opened.

Fig. 60. Mesial view of the left eyeball.

Fig. 6I. Dorsal view of the eyeball attached to the skull.

Fig. 62. Posterior view of the eyeball attached to the skull.

Fig. 63. Ventral view of the eyeball attached to the skull.

Fig. 64. Mesial anterior view of the eyeball attached to the skull.

Fig. 65. Mesial anterior view of the eyeball attached to the skull.

Plate 21            Thumbnail

Fig. 66. Ventral view of the left eyeball, dissected to show its structure.

Fig. 67. Dorsal view of a section through the left eye and orbit.

Plate 22            Thumbnail

Fig. 68. Diagrammatic posterior view of the anterior part of the statocysts.

Fig. 69. Diagrammatic anterior view of the posterior part of the statocysts.

Fig. 70. Statolith from the right statocyst: (a) dorsal view, (b) ventral view.

Fig. 7I. Diagram of the structure of the cephalopod retina.

Fig. 72. Ovary and oviduct of an immature female.

Fig. 73. A cluster of eggs.

Plate 23            Thumbnail

Fig. 74. Ventral view of the male genital duct.

Fig. 75. Dorsal view of the male genital duct.

Fig. 77. A single spermatophore.

Fig. 78. The explosion apparatus of a single spermatophore.

Plate 24            Thumbnail

Fig. 79. Diagrammatic longitudinal optical section through Sepia.

Fig. 80. Diagrammatic transverse section through the head.

Fig. 81. Diagrammatic transverse section through the body.