Egg placement habitat selection of cuttlefish, Sepia latimanus (Sepiidae, Cephalopoda, Mollusca) in North Sulawesi waters, Indonesia

The availability of suitable egg-laying site will support animal's reproductive success. This study was intended to gather information on habitat selection of S. latimanus to lay their eggs and to describe possible factors influencing this behavior. This study was carried out in Manado Bay and Lembeh Strait and dive surveys were employed to collect the data. Results showed that there were 8 species of branching corals selected, Acropora microphthalma, A. brugemanni, Porites cylindrica, P. nigrescens, Hydnophora rigida, Echinopora horrida, Merulina scabricula, and Millepora sp. Bioactive compounds found in all selected corals were also possible factors driving this selection.