Octopus Mother Propels Her Young to Freedom
Clip: Season 44 Episode 8 | 3m 8sVideo has Closed Captions
For an octopus mother, mating marks the beginning of the end.
For an octopus mother, mating marks the beginning of the end. She chooses a mate, lays her eggs, and spends her final days guarding them.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Major support for NATURE is provided by The Arnhold Family in memory of Henry and Clarisse Arnhold, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles Rosenblum, Kathy Chiao and...
Octopus Mother Propels Her Young to Freedom
Clip: Season 44 Episode 8 | 3m 8sVideo has Closed Captions
For an octopus mother, mating marks the beginning of the end. She chooses a mate, lays her eggs, and spends her final days guarding them.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThis plastic pipe is also occupied by a male.
But he is signaling his readiness to breed.
It's an irresistible performance.
So she inspects his den.
It may not look like much, but to her, apparently it will do.
He nudges her into his home.
She gives his den and him her seal of approval, and the two mate.
A few days later, she starts laying her eggs inside the pipe.
She will eventually produce about 500 of them.
She strokes them with her suckers to keep them clear of algae.
Her home will hide her and is easy to defend, but laying her eggs will be the last act of her life.
All octopus mothers die in their dens.
As her eggs hatch, she takes her young in her arms and uses her siphon to propel them to independence.
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Preview: S44 Ep8 | 30s | Ocean parents must master dedication and intelligence to raise their young. (30s)
Why This Fish Dad Fasts for a Month
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Clip: S44 Ep8 | 3m 3s | This fish dad doesn’t eat for a month to protect his young. (3m 3s)
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Major support for NATURE is provided by The Arnhold Family in memory of Henry and Clarisse Arnhold, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles Rosenblum, Kathy Chiao and...