---
title: Indian Ocean Bobtail Squid (Euprymna stenodactyla)
scientific_name: Euprymna stenodactyla
common_name: Indian Ocean Bobtail Squid
taxon: Cephalopods
conservation_status: DD - Data Deficient
published: 2024-11-02T22:11:22.067Z
updated: 2025-11-25T13:58:09.000Z
tags: Indian Ocean Bobtail Squid, Euprymna stenodactyla, Cephalopods, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/cephalopods/indian-ocean-bobtail-squid
---

# Indian Ocean Bobtail Squid (*Euprymna stenodactyla*)

**Taxon:** Cephalopods (*Cephalopoda*)  
**Conservation Status:** DD - Data Deficient  


Euprymna stenodactyla is a bobtail squid species that belongs to the Cephalopoda class. These squids have separate sexes, and after reproducing, both male and female adults usually die. During mating, the male squid performs displays to attract a female, then uses a specialized arm called the hectocotylus to transfer sperm into the female's mantle cavity, enabling fertilization.

Euprymna stenodactyla follows a life cycle where the embryos hatch into a stage that lives in the open water (planktonic stage) before settling on the ocean floor (benthic lifestyle) as they mature. These squids can grow up to 2.5 centimeters (approximately 1 inch) in size. 

This species is native to the Indian Ocean and has been verified in Mauritius. Some reports suggest they may also inhabit parts of the Indo-West Pacific region, from the Mascarene Islands to Queensland, Australia, and reaching into Polynesia, although these records are less certain.

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*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/cephalopods/indian-ocean-bobtail-squid)*
*Updated: November 25, 2025*