Octopuses are incredible creatures that have always fascinated humans. These eight-limbed cephalopods have taught us much about the natural world, from their unique physical appearance to their mysterious behavior.
A typical octopus lives in isolation and spends most of their adult life looking for a potential partner. While they prefer a solitary lifestyle, males generally seek out a female upon reaching sexual maturity, which varies at different ages depending on the species.
It is still unclear how mature male and female octopuses find each other in the vastness of the ocean. It appears that males devote much time looking for a partner while females become less active in adulthood, possibly drawing males to them using chemical signals. Once they come together, they enter a mating game, which can be dangerous to the male.
How Do Octopus Mate as a Cephalopod?
Octopuses are cephalopod mollusks of the order Octopoda. They are known for their bulging head, eight arms, and the ability to change color and texture to blend in with their environment. With their bulbous heads and four pairs of arms, male and female octopuses look almost exactly the same. They both have reproductive organs in their mantle, but one small external difference has to do with sex.
Males have one arm called the hectocotylus, modified at the end to serve as the penis; hence, it is also known as the sex arm. Scientists believe the modified arm had evolved to allow the male octopus to deliver their sperm from a distance safely.
An octopus hectocotylus is composed of three main parts. The hectocotylus penis contains a central groove known as the calamus, which holds the sperm packet or the spermatophores. It is usually the third right limb of the male octopus. At the tip of the modified arm is a spoon-shaped depression containing modified suckers and a region of erectile tissue called a ligula.
When a male octopus is aroused, the ligula tissue is filled with blood and becomes rigid, just like humans. The male cephalopod will use the size of his ligula to convince the female that he is a potential partner. This rigid modified tip also gives the stiffness the male needs in guiding the arm into the female's mantle as soon as the reproduction process begins.
A Dangerous Game
Sexual cannibalism is common among most species of octopus, especially the large ones. Female octopuses can sometimes get a little bit aggressive during the mating process. This means male octopuses are at greater risk of being strangled and eaten when approaching a female to mate. It is believed that this cannibalistic tendency of female octopuses is due to their demand for a protein-rich meal in preparation for the arrival of their offspring.
To make the mating process successful, a male octopus must proceed with caution and be tactical in his moves. When approaching a female, a male makes himself look bigger and rear up to display his large suckers close to the beaks. He may also flash distinct color patterns across their bodies to signal his intentions.
Because of the life-threatening danger that awaits, a male octopus can even hide out in a nearby den and only sneak his hectocotylus arm out and into the female's den to transfer his spermatophore.
RELATED ARTICLE: Aggressive Female Octopus Hurls Missiles of Shells, Silts Towards Males Betting to Mate With Them [WATCH]
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