While the bite of a toxic blue lined Octopus (Hapalochlaena fasciata) can result in a painful, possible Life-of-Death Emergency For people, new research indicates that it is part of the daily dating for the eight-in-limbing molluscs. And in the case of the male blue-lined Octopus, his neurotoxin offer serves as a defensive mechanism against his partner.
Sexual cannibalism has been documented over a wide range of species, especially with many mantices and spiders. Although it is a pity for men, becoming a post-gender meal offers the female vital nutrients needed to maintain themselves and their hundreds of false offspring. This practice is especially common in animals that show female sexual dimorphism, an evolutionary characteristic in which one sex is greater than the other.
Cannibalism in sexual dimorphous animals is not only limited to insects and spinning. It also occurs in a few shellfish, gastropods and even octopuses. And although a female blue -lined Octopus is usually about double a male, they are still susceptible to hunger pangs after mating. In contrast to the men of some species that voluntarily allow themselves to be eaten, the male with male -lined Octopus is not so excited by the prospect. According to recent evidence from researchers from the Queensland Brain Institute, their poisonous saliva is often the key to increasing the chances of survival of the Octopod.
The new findings were documented in a study published on 10 March in the magazine Current biology. In laboratory observations, a team discovered their chosen partner with male with male with blue -lined octopuses at the start of the dating at her aorta biting. Within a few minutes, the neurotoxin that is known as tetrodotoxin (TTX) floods the system of the female as their breathing slows down to a literal stop. During this hourly Asfyxia -like condition, her skin turns pale, the students construct and they will not respond to many external stimuli. In the meantime, the male conveys his spermatofoor (sperm pack) to the female. But instead of delaying breathing before him, his breathing actually increases from 20-25 to 35-45 breaths per minute. The female Octopus eventually pushes her partner away quickly as the TTX effects disappear, giving the man extra time to flee to a safe distance.
Although both sexes produce TTX for immobilizing prey and defending themselves, researchers noted that the male blue -lined Octopus salivary glands are no less than three times heavier than those in women. But because killing the mother of their descendants beats the entire purpose of reproduction, the team believes that female blue-covered Octopuses have probably developed a higher tolerance for TTX, similar to their close relatives, the blue-ring octopus.