Octopus female vs male. Photograph by Cassandra L.

Octopus female vs male May 24, 2021 · But the males don’t just reach out and pass off a parcel of sperm. Without the nooks and crannies of the ocean floor in which to lay eggs, the female . It is believed that when mating the male actually places two spermatophores in the female, one at the entrance to each oviduct. They detach their own arm and give it to the female. Male octopuses, on the other hand, may have a more elongated mantle and a smaller body size overall. During gastrulation, the disc surrounds the yolk, forming a yolk sac, which eventually forms part of the gut. For many animals, the male is the bigger and flashier sex. Male and female blanket octopuses have vastly different ways of protecting themselves from hungry predators. One of the most common ways to determine the sex of an octopus is by looking at their physical characteristics. Consequently, males do not live as long in the wild as females do. Which octopus species lives the longest? 7. The general term “female octopus” is most commonly used. The male blanket octopuses are smaller than a walnut (and do not have a cape) while female octopuses are super-sized—having one long fleshy cape that encloses their arms. The male octopus has a modified arm called the hectocotylus, which is about 3 feet (1 meter) long and holds rows of sperm. Females, on the other hand, have a black face and a more robust body. But not so for the blanket octopus. If any of the arms has a scoop at the end, or a hectocotylus, it' Apr 22, 2025 · But what really sets the Blanket Octopus male and female apart? This article explores their physical characteristics, roles in reproduction, behavioral traits, and evolutionary adaptations, all written in easy-to-understand language and guided by professional insights . He sits next to her or mounts her, inserting the hectocotylus in her mantle cavity to pass the spermatophores. There is no specific term, like Octopus Fun Fact . #shorts #factsdastan #male #vs #female #octopus #latest #viral #trending #new Apr 3, 2018 · Believe it or not, a female blanket octopus can grow a few orders of magnitude larger than the male blanket octopus, with males measuring up to 2. May 8, 2025 · While there isn’t a specific unique term, a female octopus is sometimes referred to as a hen. ©Sam Robertshaw/Shutterstock. The Blanket Octopus gets its name from its female counterpart: rarely-seen and super-sized, the female blanket octopus has a long, fleshy ‘cape’ enclosing its tentacles. What happens if a female octopus is prevented from laying eggs? 6. [3] The females carry more than 100,000 eggs attached to a sausage-shaped calcareous secretion held at the base of the dorsal arms and carried by the female until hatching. Are there boy octopuses? Yes, there are male octopuses. 6’ (1. Aside from the fact that male octopus typically dies a few months after mating, the female octopus also dies shortly after their eggs hatch. Suckers run all the way down every arm of a female but a male has one arm (called the hectocotylus and usually its third right appendage) that is quite unlike the rest. Mar 13, 2025 · Male blue-lined octopuses inject a powerful neurotoxin into the hearts of females before mating to avoid being eaten, according to a new study. It is more accurate to refer to a female octopus as a female octopus. Blanket Octopus Male Vs Female: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the Differences. WEN-SUNG CHUNG. Meanwhile, females have an oviduct that receives and stores sperm under their mantle. Males are the size of a walnut, can be up to 40,000 times lighter than the female, and really have no need for a cape. 4 cm and females measuring up to 2 meters 2! Norman et al (2002) photographed and described the first live male specimen of the elusive blanket octopus; males are only a fraction of the size of females. Senescence and Death. The males have evolved to use a venom called Are octopus both male and female? Octopus vulgaris has individuals of both sexes. Male and female members of the species are so dramatically different as to appear as if they belong to different species entirely. Females. During mating, some male octopuses inject females with their potent venom to paralyse them Jun 15, 2022 · The Common Blanket Octopus (Tremoctopus violaceus) is a cephalopod that was named after the webbing between their arms. They are distinguished by the presence of a Jan 5, 2023 · Female blanket octopuses weigh 40,000 times more than male blanket octopuses. Although their larger size sets them apart from other species, these multi-armed marine mollusks share a common characteristic among all octopuses—their short average life span. Whenever the Common Blanket Octopus feels threatened, they stretch their arms to create a blanket-like silhouette to frighten predators. What is the typical lifespan of an octopus in the wild? 2. Is a female octopus called a “hen”? While some sources might use the term “hen,” it is not a scientifically recognized term. Just look at the end of their arms. Cox. Giant Pacific Octopuses are highly advanced creatures with impressive intelligence and countless adaptations. When a tiny male encounters a female, he inserts and detaches his sex arm (hectocotylus), that carries a packet of sperm, inside the female’s mantle. Mar 10, 2025 · The female octopus eventually pushes away her mate shortly as the TTX effects subside, giving the male additional time to flee to a safe distance. Apr 24, 2025 · 1. Female Octopus: How to Tell the Difference! 🐙** Ever wondered how to tell if an octopus is male or female? 🤔 It’s all in their arms! If one o Jul 18, 2020 · When a male argo senses a female, his hectocotylus pops off his head and FREELY SWIMS into the female’s shell! Also like the blanket octopus, she will collect the severed arms of males until she Apr 21, 2025 · Sperm packets are transferred into the female octopus's mantle cavity by the male using a specialized arm known as the hectocotylus. Museum scientist Zoe Hughes explains the clever May 26, 2024 · Blanket Octopus Male Vs Female Size • The ocean is a mysterious and wondrous place, home to an incredible array of creatures, each with unique. What is a female octopus called? While there isn’t a specific common name for a female octopus, they are sometimes referred to as “hens,” although this is not a widely used term. The embryo forms as the dorsal side of the disc grows upward, with a May 30, 2015 · When threatened, the blanket octopus extends these fleshy curtains to look like a disco icon. The male will seek multiple female mates. Mar 8, 2025 · 2. While it may seem challenging to determine the sex of an octopus, there are several methods to identify males and females. The female stores the sperm packet (this could be for months!) until she is ready to fertilize and her eggs. The larger Pacific striped octopus is known as a harlequin for the patterns and colors seen on the female (at May 27, 2024 · Blanket octopus pairs are some of the undersea world’s oddest couples, with the female weighing 40,000 times more than the male. Though the female blanket octopus is already large—growing to around 2 metres in Feb 2, 2015 · A male day octopus (O. Jan 17, 2017 · Now you know the secret of telling a girl octopus from a boy octopus. A male and female golden orb weaver hang out on a web in South Africa Feb 6, 2021 · The male passes the female an elongated package of sperm called a spermatophore, which may be up to one metre (three feet) long, which he deposits in one of the female’s two oviducts. Female octopuses die after their eggs have hatched. The tiny male detaches its hectocotylus—a modified A male blanket octopus might max out at 2. They may also have a wider head and larger eyes, which can help differentiate them from their male counterparts. May 26, 2024 · Last Updated on 05/26/2024 . The female blanket octopus can grow up to six feet in length. The evolution of mate choice and mating competition has been a major component of Darwin’s theory of sexual selection (Darwin, 1871). This cape makes the octopus appear larger and more intimidating to potential predators. The startling difference in size between a male and a female Blanket Octopus. Apr 29, 2025 · They require a male and a female to produce offspring. Oct 9, 2019 · Introduction. Mar 14, 2024 · The right third arm of the male octopus is the hectocotylized arm. Male carpenter bees are typically smaller than females, with a more slender body and a distinctive white or yellow face. The Common Blanket Octopus has an overall length between 6’-6. researchers noted the male blue-lined octopus Although it is a well-known fact that most octopus species are not social creatures, it is always fascinating watching them interact with one another. Sep 18, 2024 · One of the most notable physical distinctions is the shape of their abdomens. Within months of mating with a female, the male will actually die. Oh no. May 31, 2022 · Published May 31, 2022. John Turnbull via Flicker under [CC BY-NC-SA 2. What is semelparity? 5. They also have a specialized arm called a hectocotylus, which is used to transfer sperm to the female during mating. 2) Blanket octopus females are 10,000 times bigger than males. The eggs have large yolks; cleavage (division) is relatively shallow and a germinal disc develops at the pole. Male blanket octopuses grow barely up to an inch while some females are found to grow to a whopping 6ft in length. Scientists weren’t aware that male argonauts existed until the 19th Oct 14, 2015 · The blanket octopus is rarely seen, especially the tiny males. Here's how to tell if an octopus is a male or a female. It is likely that the male dies after mating. If any of the arms has a scoop at the end, or a hectocotylus, it' There is competition between the males; multiple male arms have been found in the mantle cavity of females. How long do female octopuses live after laying eggs? 4. We set #shorts #viral #facts #science #knowledge Mar 9, 2024 · To determine if an octopus is male or female, biologists have relied purely on observation, differentiating between which individuals lay eggs versus which produce sperm. Blanket octopus. It would be pretty fun if they also had a tiny shimmering cape but alas, they remain capeless crusaders. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Photograph by Cassandra L. Since then, it has been generally accepted that different selective pressures acting on male and female attributes may give rise to sexually dimorphic traits, which are often interpreted as evidence of direct competition for mates within a given About Press Press How to Tell if an Octopus is Male or Female? Octopuses are fascinating creatures, and understanding their gender can be crucial for aquarium maintenance, breeding, and research purposes. This arm The female blanket octopus can weigh 40,000 times more than males, and can use the dangerous Portuguese man-o-war's tentacles as weapons. Do all octopus species die after mating? 8. When the male is ready to mate, the pouch ruptures, and sperm is released into the arm. Females are much larger in size than males. This arm is modified by anatomy specialized to hold and transfer sperm packets to the female, and lacks suckers at the distal end. Octopus eyes are so advanced that camera manufacturers have used their eyes as a model to improve the camera lens. 0] Scientists have discovered that female octopuses will "throw *🔍 Male vs. Female blanket octopuses grow more than six feet long… In male seven-arm octopuses (Haliphron atlanticus), the hectocotylus develops in an inconspicuous sac in front of the right eye that gives the male the appearance of having only seven arms. . Cyanea), on the other hand, will stand tall and tower over his potential mate, while turning pale — as he approaches a female, he'll flash a distinctive pattern of black Jan 12, 2023 · Here's how to tell if an octopus is a male or a female. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright Mar 10, 2025 · A male blue-lined octopus mounts a female during mating and injects venom into her body. Until female octopus is ready to fertilize her eggs, the female keeps the sperm in storage. Female octopuses generally live longer than males of the same species. Mar 3, 2018 · A female blanket octopus is dramatically larger than males, which put their energy into finding females in the open ocean. In argonauts, the male transfers the spermatophores to the female by putting its hectocotylus into a cavity in the mantle of the female, called the pallial Mar 20, 2015 · A female blanket octopus can be an astounding 10,000 times heavier than a male, perhaps up to 40,000 times. For most smaller octopus species, the males tend to live longer than females since they don’t have to invest resources into producing and laying eggs. Male octopuses tend to be smaller in size compared to females. That's not all. The male dies, or so we think. Female bed bugs have a more rounded abdomen, which is capable of expanding to accommodate eggs, whereas male bed bugs have a more pointed abdomen. Among the many factors that make the blanket octopuses one of the weirdest in the marine world is the startling difference in size between a male and female. This size difference between the sexes is seen in a number of marine animals, and this, at least in terrestrial animals, usually implies a divergence from monogamic mating strategies. They may copulate for several hours. Image from Tree of Life Web Project. Jan 23, 2023 · Male octopuses have a hectocotylus, a specialized arm used to introduce sperm to females with a unique structure compared to its other seven arms. Male octopus vs Female Octopus #facts #shorts Most octopus females will mate with a male and then bite his head off—literally. Why do male octopuses die after mating? 3. What is the feminine gender of an octopus? The feminine gender of an octopus is simply a female octopus. The deep sea is home to many fascinating creatures, and one of the most intriguing among them is the blanket octopus (Tremoctopus). Male octopus may be distinguished by the skilled eye from their habit of holding their hectocotylus closer to their body in a protective manner, although this observation has never been described Ranging in size from the one-fourth gram male pillow octopus to the record 600 pound (272 kilograms) plus giant Pacific octopus, this most advanced of invertebrates has flabbergasted and amused researchers for years. Measuring barely an inch long, the males are dramatically smaller than females. 3. The female inserts the hectocotylus into her egg case, holding onto it until she’s ready to fertilize her eggs. 83-2 m), mantle length The third right arm in male blanket octopus is called the hectocotylus, which has a sperm-filled pouch between the arms. 5cm, or one inch long and it would take more than 10,000 of them to match the weight of the 2 meter, 6’7” female. He then cuts this arm off and gives it to a female. Female octopuses typically have a rounder mantle and a larger body size compared to males. Do male or female octopus live longer? Depending on the octopus species, adulthood is usually reached after only one to two years. The reproductive organs of male bed bugs are also visible at the tip of their abdomen, a feature not present in females. com. May 20, 2024 · The male Giant Pacific Octopus usually lives only about 6 months after maturity. The duration of egg incubation normally takes 2 to 10 months, depending on the species and water temperature. Female giant Pacific octopus guarding strings of eggs. Indeed, the differences between the two sexes are more extreme than any other animal Male Octopus Vs Female Octopus #shorts #viral #trending #new #fact #octopus Aug 31, 2021 · Female octopuses were far more likely than males to 'throw' objects at others. Searching the octopus genome had shown no clear sign of a sex chromosome system. May 13, 2025 · One of the most obvious differences between male and female carpenter bees is their physical characteristics. 2. Since they reproduce just once before going extinct, octopuses are semelparous. During mating, the male approaches the female, who fends him off for a while, but then accepts him. Depending on the species, he will either approach a receptive female and insert the arm into her oviduct or take off the arm and give it to her to store in her mantle for later. During mating, the male’s hectocotylus, an arm that contains sperm, is released and stays inside the female. How can you tell if an octopus is male or female? The primary way to identify a male octopus is by looking for the hectocotylus, a modified arm used for sperm transfer. dpv cybre cycj kpaga twkae stjsv qrzj zeygdg vph jiwln