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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001044321-03-000164.txt : 20031028
<SEC-HEADER>0001044321-03-000164.hdr.sgml : 20031028
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031028113122
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001044321-03-000164
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031028

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TARANTELLA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000851560
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942549086
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 ENCINAL STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1900
		CITY:			SANTA CRUZ
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95061
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084277172

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 ENCINAL STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1900
		CITY:			SANTA CRUZ
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95061

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SANTA CRUZ OPERATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940614

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARXE AUSTIN W & GREENHOUSE DAVID M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001044321

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21484
		FILM NUMBER:		03960002

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		153 E 53RD ST
		STREET 2:		55ST FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122076500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		153 E 53RD ST
		STREET 2:		55TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000851560</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TARANTELLA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TTLAE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARXE AUSTIN W &amp; GREENHOUSE DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>153 E 53RD ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1492271</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.395</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-09-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1064556</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) and David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting and investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Technology Fund, LP (Tech) and Special Situations Technology II, LP. (Tech II), respectively. 244,471 shares of Common Stock are held by Tech and 1,247,800 shares of Common Stock are held by Tech II.  The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned by Tech and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) and David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting and investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Technology Fund, LP (Tech) and Special Situations Technology II, LP. (Tech II), respectively. 239,500 warrants are held by Tech of which 174,332 warrants are exercisable for 174,332 shares of common stock.  1,223,800 warrants are held by Tech II, of which 890,224 warrants are exercisable for 890,224 shares of common stock.  The amount of warrants that are deemed exercisable will change accordingly with the total percentage of ownership.  The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned by Tech and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Austin W. Marxe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David M. Greenhouse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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