Octopus sex is more complex than you'd think

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/17/8 | Patricia Yollin

[SmithL]

Octopus sex is simple, dull and quick - at least that's what scientists used to think. Instead, it turns out to be complex, sophisticated and rife with petty rivalries.

In the most detailed research ever conducted on this topic in the wild, UC Berkeley biologists focused on the mating behavior of the Abdopus aculeatus, one of more than 300 species of octopus. They were stunned at what they learned.

"The main surprise was the fact we had this idea that they were completely solitary, with interactions few and far between," said Christine Huffard, lead author on a study recently published in Marine Biology, a science journal. "But they interacted so much more than we ever expected."

She discovered that the males were very picky and discriminating, that the females would have sex with just about anybody, and that male competition for females tended to be violent and frequent.

[SmithL]

A gray male octopus (right) mates with a female. Marine biologists studied the creatures in the wild and found the octopuses interacted often. UC Berkeley photo by Roy Caldwell

[Paul Heinzman]

Octopus sex is more complex than you'd think

I'm sure someone in San Fransisco can say this from personal experience.

[Yossarian]

LOL! - and you’re probably right!

[martin_fierro]

She discovered that the males were very picky and discriminating, that the females would have sex with just about anybody, and that male competition for females tended to be violent and frequent.

Sounds like no singles bar I've ever been to.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

All octopusses are female.

[mnehring]

Reminds me of a joke on Coupling(UK) which I probably shouldn’t repeat here.

[gracesdad]

“Octopus sex is simple, dull and quick...”

Sounds like people sex after marriage (ducking and running)

[Cheapskate]

I wonder how much we ended up paying for these little gems of knowledge?

[live+let_live]

“Sounds like no singles bar I’ve ever been to.”

I’ve been there, but it’s like Fight Club: the first rule of fight club is you never talk about Fight Club.

[KoRn]

/mark

[ml/nj]

I'm betting that this study was funded by our tax dollars.

ML/NJ

[lesser_satan]

I suppose when you have eight appendages plus the unit, it could get a bit confusing.

[advertising guy]

” I suppose when you have eight appendages plus the unit, it could get a bit confusing”

...masturbation must require therapy then..

[The SISU kid]

Headline alone ping.....

8^)

[rednesss]

Anything out on porcupine sex yet????

[Slings and Arrows]

I didn't do it; nobody saw me; you can't prove anything.

[Slings and Arrows]

Anything out on porcupine sex yet????

You asked...

[Yo-Yo]

[JaguarXKE]

Well, I have to agree - it’s certainly difficult and complex when I try it!

[The SISU kid]

Well, I have to agree - it’s certainly difficult and complex when I try it!

Beats the heck out of "simple, dull and quick"

8^)