Yes! Many thanks to both Paul and Erick for their messages. I am familiar
with beach drift Sepia officinalis cuttlebones (in good condition) because
they washed up in quantity sometimes on some beaches on the south coast of
Britain not very far from where I grew up.

The one I found in the West Indies was in better shape than the one you
found Paul, but it is also missing the cartilaginous head shield part, which
I believe is necessary for species identification.

The problem is that one can always argue that a Sepia cuttlebone found on an
Western Atlantic beach may have originated as trash thrown away by someone
who kept a pet bird or other pet that needs a calcium source.

However I do have this suspicion that they may come across on the
North Equatorial Current sometimes.

Maybe I should talk to an oceanographer who might possibly know what washes
up where, and from where.

Susan


On 9/15/13 1:14 PM, "Erick Staal" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hello Paul,
>
> Given that Sepia cuttlebones are quite common here on the cold North Sea
> beaches, I can say with certainty that what you've found is indeed a
> Sepia cuttlebone. However due to its damaged state it will be difficult
> to impossible to assign it to a specific species.
>
> Via Google you can view (at least partially) Cephalopods of the World by
> Jereb and Roper. Perhaps this will help with further identification.
>
> Sincerely, Erick
>
> On 09/15/2013 06:57 PM, Paul Mikkelsen wrote:
>> I don't know(for sure) if it's a cuttlebone or not...  but I don't know
>> what else it could be!
>> Thus, in response to Susan's requestand thinking that it may be of
>> interest, I present it here for confirmation:   Cuttlebone? /Sepia/?
>> It has the right shape, and it seems to be CaCO3 and deposited in layers.
>>
>> Recently, on Sept. 1, 2013 while walking the beach at Avalon State Park
>> in Fort Pierce, Florida (USA), I found what I thought was a cuttlebone,
>> but certainly questioned thisas I don't think that I'dever found one
>> before...   with over 30 years of periodically walking these beaches.
>>
>> Several photos are available at:
>> http://www.PaulMikkelsen.com/mollusca/sepia/
>>
>> Hope this helps...  and hoping y'all can help me with an ID.
>> Paul
>>
>>
>> On 9/14/2013 9:06 AM, Ed and Susan wrote:
>>> Sepia cuttlebones We all know that Spirula shells can ride the Gulf
>>> Stream northeast across the Atlantic, and wash up on beaches in the
>>> west of the British Isles.  But... does anyone know any references, or
>>> even any anecdotal evidence, as to whether cuttlefish bones can be
>>> carried by the North Equatorial Current across the Atlantic, washing
>>> up in the West Indies?
>>>
>>> Forgive me if I asked this before...
>>>
>>> Susan J. Hewitt
>>>
>>>
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>>
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