Abdopus aculeatus mating paper out

[mucktopus]

It's been a long haul getting this beast out, but we finally got it through.

"Mating behavior of Abdopus aculeatus (d’Orbigny 1834) (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in the wild"

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0930-2

take care,
Mucktopus, Neogonodactylus, and Farnis

 

[Nancy]

Congratulations to all three of you! Read the abstract, very interesting.

Nancy

 

[shipposhack]

Good abstract. It seems like A. aculeatus may be more social than the typical octopus which may mean they will more readily live with each other in a closed environment. What are the characteristics that separate a male from a female? Do males curl their hectocotylized arm, have enlarged suckers, different patternings (aside from the mentioned black and white striped)?

Thanks!

 

[monty]

congrats!

 

[Steve O'Shea]

 

[Architeuthoceras]

Kool!

 

[Taollan]

I just got done reading it. Very good work. Congratulations

 

[DWhatley]

Mucktopus,
You mentioned male-male aggression in the abstract but did not specify (I can't read the full article but would like to ...) if this led to death or dismemberment. With my sibbling Mercs, the two males have live comfortably together, one tank houses no female, the other contained one (she disappeared after brooding, producing young and mating a second time). The level of encounter between the males can not be classified as highly aggressive in either case and both sets of males are alive after 11 months. Since there is a difficulty keeping multiple octopuses in the same aquarium, could you give more information on this behavior?

Thanks for keeping us updated on your publishing!

 

[mucktopus]

Males pull each others arms and strangle during fighting, and we had one case when a male was found eating arms, so aggression easily has the potential to injure/kill. But severe injuries may be rare. Females have just as many arm injuries as males even though they are far less aggressive. Thus a lot of damage may be done by predators or prey (stomatopods). That's good to know that your mercs are less aggressive. Having two male aculeatus together in a tank would be pretty risky. It's entirely possible that mercs have a totally different set of behaviors/types of competition. Ahh- to follow them in the wild would be a fun challenge!

 

[Thales]

Nice!