-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 q+iM27ceM1NsJRRntOGAiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001044321-04-000071.txt : 20040225
<SEC-HEADER>0001044321-04-000071.hdr.sgml : 20040225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040225174103
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001044321-04-000071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040225

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:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21484
		FILM NUMBER:		04628413

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000851560</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TARANTELLA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TTLA</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>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1200000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6794771</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>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>240000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>240000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2102500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </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 Cayman Fund, L.P. (CAY), Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P. (SSPE), Special Situations Technology Fund, LP (Tech) and Special Situations Technology II, LP. (Tech II), respectively. 600,000 shares of Common Stock and 120,000 Wts are held by CAY, 600,000 shares of Common Stock and 120,000 Wts are held by SSPE, 571,771 shares of Common Stock , 239,500 Wts and 65,460 Wts are held by Tech and 2,920,500 shares of Common Stock, 1,223,000 Wts and 334,540 wts are held by Tech II.  The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned by CAY, SSPE,  Tech and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Subject to the effective date of form S-3 to be filed by the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Austin W. Marxe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David M. Greenhouse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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