Octopus Mating

This is a male of an as-yet un-named octopus species extending his hectocotylus arm to mate with a female in the background. These octopuses excel in mimicry of staghorn coral rubble. Pictured here, the female at the end of the male's arm looks remarkably like a piece of dead, broken coral. The two were approximately 70cm apart. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

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Filename: octopus-mating-unnamed-species-japan-202405-0083.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 8103x5402 / 252.1MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Octopus Animalia Mollusca Cephalopoda Octopoda Octopodidae Reproduction Mating Pacific Japan Kagoshima Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life | Japan, Marine Life Reproduction, Cephalopods

This is a male of an as-yet un-named octopus species extending his hectocotylus arm to mate with a female in the background. These octopuses excel in mimicry of staghorn coral rubble. Pictured here, the female at the end of the male's arm looks remarkably like a piece of dead, broken coral. The two were approximately 70cm apart. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.