Why octopuses torture and eat themselves after mating
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Mother octopuses inflict pain on themselves and even eat themselves due to some chemical changes that occur around the time they lay their eggs, according to the new study, published in the journal Current Biology.
- Before this, a study in 1977 explained that a set of glands near the octopus’s eyes are responsible for their self-destruction.
- It was found that three chemical shifts happen at the same time that the mother lays her eggs.
It's something that has been known by marine experts and common folks for a long time. But the reason for it always remained a mystery.
We all know that nature is made of intriguing creatures. And one that always leaves experts fascinated is the octopus. Due to their unique features and behavioural traits, many believe they could be aliens.
Their distinctive characteristics, which have been studied and explained well by scientists, have always set them apart from other species in the sea. However, there is one mystery about the octopus that has evaded experts for a very long time.
Do you know octopuses become self-destructive after mating? They torture and try eating themselves before laying their eggs.
If you are among the thousands of curious people who wanted to why the molluscs torture themselves, scientists now have an answer for you.
Mother octopuses inflict pain on themselves and even eat themselves due to some chemical changes that occur around the time they lay their eggs, according to the new study, published in the journal Current Biology.
Before this, a study in 1977 explained that a set of glands near the octopus’s eyes are responsible for their self-destruction. At the time, researchers found that the glands produced steroid hormones, which could push octopuses to torture themselves when the eggs are laid.
It was found that three chemical shifts happen at the same time that the mother lays her eggs.
Scientists noted rises in the pregnenolone and progesterone hormone levels. The levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol also increased.
Researchers now believe that these chemical changes in the body often come together to prompt octopuses to inflict pain on themselves.
However, the exact reason why such a drastic change occurs in an octopus' body has not been fully determined by scientists. According to University of Washington assistant professor Z. Yan Wang, the process could be a way for octopuses to protect their younglings.
