Smithsonian Magazine

These Male Octopuses Use Venom to Subdue Female Mates—and Avoid Being Eaten After Sex

When they're alarmed, blue-lined octopuses display iridescent blue rings on their arms to ward off approaching predators. Totti via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0 Animals have evolved many ...
New York Post

Highly venomous male octopuses poison females before sex — to avoid being eaten after mating, scientists say

It’s an octopus-eat-octopus world. Scientists have discovered that when mating, male blue-lined octopuses will inject a powerful, incapacitating neurotoxin into the hearts of female octopuses — to ...
CNN

This male octopus poisons the female during mating to avoid being eaten

Male blue-lined octopuses inject a powerful neurotoxin into the hearts of females before mating to avoid being eaten, according to a new study. The males have evolved to use a venom called ...
Ars Technica

Male octopuses guided through mating by female hormones

Octopuses are one of the most alien creatures on Earth. The lack of bones makes them amazing shapeshifters, most of them can change color like chameleons, and they pump blue copper-based blood through ...
Charlotte Observer

Viral Octopus Video Explained: The Real Study Behind Octopuses Throwing Objects Underwater

You’ve probably seen it by now — that Instagram video posted in April 2026 of an octopus hurling rocks at another octopus, paired with a claim that females throw stuff at males who won’t leave them ...
New Scientist

Male octopuses have a favourite arm that they mostly use for sex

For a male octopus, there is one appendage it cannot afford to lose. This is its third right arm, which has a specialised role in sex. Therefore, they take extra care to protect it. A new study led by ...