"In lieu of a penis, the male has a special mating arm called a hectocotylus. He feels around with it inside the female's mantle until he finds her ovaries."
"The suckers on octopus arms are equipped with chemotactile receptors that allow them to taste their surroundings through touch, aiding in the mating process."
"Researchers coaxed a pair of California two-spot octopuses to mate in the lab, observing that the male could reach across a barrier to mate successfully."
Male octopuses possess a unique mating arm called a hectocotylus instead of a penis. This arm can detect female sex hormones, guiding the male to the ovaries during mating. The suckers on the hectocotylus are equipped with chemotactile receptors that allow the male to sense his surroundings through touch. Researchers observed mating behavior in California two-spot octopuses, finding that males could successfully mate even in total darkness, indicating the effectiveness of the hectocotylus in locating the female's reproductive organs.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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