record-setting octopus

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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Greg Jensen
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record-setting octopus

Post by Greg Jensen »

Deep-sea octo guarded its eggs for 4.5 years

http://news.sciencemag.org/plants-anima ... ing-record
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Tom Nic
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Re: record-setting octopus

Post by Tom Nic »

That is absolutely amazing.

There is nothing for size reference, but it seemed to me that the egg cases were larger than the GPO eggs we see, and if the theory about longer brooding time = better survivability it might make sense that when they hatch they don't go into a pelagic state, but are rather ready to start scurrying around and doing what little octopuses do.

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
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Grateful Diver
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Re: record-setting octopus

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Damn! Betchya she wished someone could've induced labor ...

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nwscubamom
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Re: record-setting octopus

Post by nwscubamom »

So, I thought that the mommy octopus doesn't even eat during that period - think that's true of this species? How do you not eat for 53 months? :eek:
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renoun
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Re: record-setting octopus

Post by renoun »

nwscubamom wrote:So, I thought that the mommy octopus doesn't even eat during that period - think that's true of this species? How do you not eat for 53 months? :eek:
Just heard an interview with the paper's author on CBC. He said that they offered her crab legs that she wouldn't take from their ROV.

The paper is published in PLOS, an open access journal, go read it yourself if you are interested.
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