Acanthosepion pharaonis Cuttlefish Reproduction

Shown here is a male Pharoah cuttlefish (Acanthosepion pharaonis) guarding a female depositing eggs after mating. Rival males were present in the area, hence the behavior of the male. Females deposit one egg at a time, backing up from the nest area to prepare each egg. This takes time. The male stays with her to keep other males away. The white string-like things on the ground comprise the gelatinous substance produced in the female's nidamental gland to envelope the eggs. Females sometimes eject this material while preparing eggs. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

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Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 8256x5504 / 132.9MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Cephalopod Cuttlefish Animalia Mollusca Cephalopoda Sepiida Sepiidae Acanthosepion pharaonis Pharaoh Cuttlefish Torafu-koika Reproduction Mating Pacific Japan Kagoshima Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Cephalopods, Marine Life | Japan

Shown here is a male Pharoah cuttlefish (Acanthosepion pharaonis) guarding a female depositing eggs after mating. Rival males were present in the area, hence the behavior of the male. Females deposit one egg at a time, backing up from the nest area to prepare each egg. This takes time. The male stays with her to keep other males away. The white string-like things on the ground comprise the gelatinous substance produced in the female's nidamental gland to envelope the eggs. Females sometimes eject this material while preparing eggs. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.