All organisms reproduce to form new organisms. Most animals, including the blue ringed octopus, reproduce sexually, which means that there are two parents that engage in a process to form new organisms. Because new organisms are formed that are different from the parents, it creates genetic diversity and helps the species evolve to withstand environmental changes. Most animals reproduce with haploid gametes. “Haploid” means cells with half the chromosomes and a “gamete” is a sex cell. In asexual reproduction there is a single parent. The organism divides and creates identical offspring. This allows the species to reproduce faster.
The cell reproduction process will be either by mitosis or meiosis, depending on how the organism reproduces. For asexual reproduction, the cells divide by mitosis, resulting in two replica diploid cells with each having an equal number of chromosomes. The new organism that grows from this is identical to the original one. For the blue-ringed octopus, since it reproduces sexually, its cells divide by meiosis. The number of chromosomes is reduced by half through the separation of homologous chromosomes, producing two haploid cells. Each parent contributes half the number of chromosomes, producing an organism that is different from either of the parents.
As with other animals, the blue-ringed octopus develops the urge to reproduce when it reaches adulthood. This is by instinct, and not from watching music videos. The male uses the hectocotylus, which is one of the arms of male cephalopods that is
specialized to store and transfer spermatophores to the female. The male uses this arm, usually the third one, to caress the female and get things going for both of them. The male inserts the hectoctylus into the oviduct of the female and releases packets of sperm that slide down into the oviduct. The female blue-ringed octopus does not conceive immediately, but instead keeps the sperm until she lays her eggs. Once she lays the eggs, she takes care of them until they hatch. Sad, but true, once the eggs hatch, the mother and father usually die shortly after.
Click here to watch a video of the octopus mating.
The cell reproduction process will be either by mitosis or meiosis, depending on how the organism reproduces. For asexual reproduction, the cells divide by mitosis, resulting in two replica diploid cells with each having an equal number of chromosomes. The new organism that grows from this is identical to the original one. For the blue-ringed octopus, since it reproduces sexually, its cells divide by meiosis. The number of chromosomes is reduced by half through the separation of homologous chromosomes, producing two haploid cells. Each parent contributes half the number of chromosomes, producing an organism that is different from either of the parents.
As with other animals, the blue-ringed octopus develops the urge to reproduce when it reaches adulthood. This is by instinct, and not from watching music videos. The male uses the hectocotylus, which is one of the arms of male cephalopods that is
specialized to store and transfer spermatophores to the female. The male uses this arm, usually the third one, to caress the female and get things going for both of them. The male inserts the hectoctylus into the oviduct of the female and releases packets of sperm that slide down into the oviduct. The female blue-ringed octopus does not conceive immediately, but instead keeps the sperm until she lays her eggs. Once she lays the eggs, she takes care of them until they hatch. Sad, but true, once the eggs hatch, the mother and father usually die shortly after.
Click here to watch a video of the octopus mating.