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Study: Octopuses kinky creatures of sea
Associated Press ^ | 4-1-08 | PAUL ELIAS

Posted on 04/01/2008 7:00:44 PM PDT by Pharmboy


A grey male octopus (R) mates with a female in an undated handout photo.
(Roy L. Caldwell/UC Berkeley/Handout/Reuters)

Wild octopuses are far from the shy, unromantic loners their captive brethren appear to be, a new study finds. Marine biologists from the University of California, Berkeley, who journeyed off the coast of Indonesia to study octopus love lives found a kinky and violent society of jealous murders, gender subterfuge and once-in-a-lifetime sex.

The scientists watched the Abdopus aculeatus octopus, which are the size of an orange, for several weeks, in research published recently in the science journal Marine Biology. They witnessed picky, macho males carefully select a mate, then guard their newly domesticated digs so jealously that they would occasionally use their 8-to-10-inch tentacles to strangle to death a romantic rival.

The researchers also observed smaller "sneaker" male octopuses put on feminine airs, such as swimming girlishly near the bottom and keeping their male brown stripes hidden in order to win unsuspecting conquests.

And size does matter — but not how you'd think.

"If you're going to spend time guarding a female, you want to go for the biggest female you can find because she's going to produce more eggs," said UC Berkeley biologist Roy Caldwell, who co-wrote the study. "It's basically an investment strategy."

Shortly after the female gives birth, about a month after conception, both the mother and father die, researchers said.

"It's not the sex that leads to death," said Christine Huffard, the study's lead author. "It's just that octopuses produce offspring once during a very short lifespan of a year."


TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: gayoctupi; groping; mincingcephalopods
What can one say?
1 posted on 04/01/2008 7:00:45 PM PDT by Pharmboy
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To: pissant; Lazamataz; Coleus; aculeus; SunkenCiv; blam; martin_fierro; neverdem; NonValueAdded
The Kinky Octopus Sex Ping List

This is not a high volume ping list

2 posted on 04/01/2008 7:03:52 PM PDT by Pharmboy (Democrats lie because they must.)
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To: Pharmboy

Gives another meaning to Femme Fatal.


3 posted on 04/01/2008 7:05:40 PM PDT by golfisnr1 (Democrats are like roaches - hard to get rid of.)
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To: Pharmboy

Anyone that reads Fark knows that the Japanese have been way ahead of the curve on kinky octopus in their cartoon porn for years.


4 posted on 04/01/2008 7:19:19 PM PDT by SlapHappyPappy
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To: Pharmboy
The Kinky Octopus Sex Ping List

What about this poor Hexupus? Will he ever get any?

5 posted on 04/01/2008 7:23:44 PM PDT by aculeus
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To: aculeus

Now THAT’s kinky...


6 posted on 04/01/2008 7:26:06 PM PDT by Pharmboy (Democrats lie because they must.)
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To: SlapHappyPappy

I learn so much stuff on FreeRepublic...


7 posted on 04/01/2008 7:27:00 PM PDT by Pharmboy (Democrats lie because they must.)
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick
As I've told you before, octopus sex is the hottest sex on the web. Many a late night I've whiled away searching the intertubes for pictures of this incredible...
8 posted on 04/01/2008 7:27:07 PM PDT by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: Pharmboy
I love Octopus...grilled and on my plate!

I'm long overdo for a return to Las Culebrinas in Miami for some Pulpo.

9 posted on 04/01/2008 7:28:06 PM PDT by Clemenza (I Live in New Jersey for the Same Reason People Slow Down to Look at Car Crashes)
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To: Clemenza

Please accept my sincere apology for omitting you from the Kinky Octopus Sex List...


10 posted on 04/01/2008 7:30:47 PM PDT by Pharmboy (Democrats lie because they must.)
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To: Pharmboy
A grey male octopus (R) mates with a female in an undated handout photo.

Republican?

11 posted on 04/01/2008 7:34:34 PM PDT by SouthTexas (If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!)
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To: Pharmboy

I wonder how many taxpayer dollars went to fund this “research”. To me, this seems the epitome of useless moneywasting.


12 posted on 04/01/2008 7:37:03 PM PDT by Horusra (Conservative > Republican)
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To: SouthTexas

Maybe we can run him instead of McCain...


13 posted on 04/01/2008 7:40:14 PM PDT by Pharmboy (Democrats lie because they must.)
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To: Pharmboy

LOL!


14 posted on 04/01/2008 7:46:34 PM PDT by neverdem (I'm praying for a Divine Intervention.)
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To: Pharmboy

They have a Clinton genome?


15 posted on 04/01/2008 7:48:39 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Pharmboy
What can one say?

Perhaps "That's my little octopussy?"

16 posted on 04/01/2008 8:23:53 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Who Would Montgomery Brewster Choose?)
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To: Pharmboy; dragonblustar
Marine biologists from the University of California, Berkeley...
Two words -- buttless chaps.

Thanks Pharmboy.
17 posted on 04/02/2008 5:52:54 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_____________________Profile updated Saturday, March 29, 2008)
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To: SunkenCiv; NonValueAdded

You guys did not disappoint...LOL!


18 posted on 04/02/2008 7:31:30 AM PDT by Pharmboy (Democrats lie because they must.)
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To: Pharmboy

squid pro quo for posting and pinging it in the first place. ;’)


19 posted on 04/02/2008 10:35:42 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_____________________Profile updated Saturday, March 29, 2008)
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