據(jù)英國《每日郵報》報道,，美國加州大學(xué)伯克利分校的一項新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)野生章魚是一種古怪的海洋動物,，存在殘暴的嫉妒謀殺,、性欺騙和一生只產(chǎn)一次卵現(xiàn)象,。
美國加州大學(xué)伯克利分校的研究人員前往印尼水域?qū)σ巴庹卖~進行了詳細研究，發(fā)現(xiàn)野生章魚絕對不是那種害羞的平淡無奇的孤獨者,，而是會調(diào)情,、牽手,，還會嫉妒謀殺和性欺騙，以及防備情敵接近它們的配偶,?？傊卖~的愛情生活比先前所認知的要復(fù)雜得多,。
科學(xué)家將此發(fā)現(xiàn)發(fā)表在最新出版的《海洋生物技術(shù)》（Marine Biotechnology）期刊上。
此論文的第一作者,、該校研究生克里斯廷·胡法德（Christine Huffard）深入印尼海域?qū)σ环N名為“Abdopus aculeatus”的章魚觀察了好幾周,，揭示了這種沒骨頭動物的感情世界。這種章魚身體尖長,，體色灰黑,，小橘子一般大小，觸角長約20-25厘米,。研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)雄章魚認真選擇配偶,，并一連數(shù)天好好保護他們的“新房”，它們?nèi)绱硕始?，以至于不準競爭對手越雷池一步,，如果對手太靠近，雄章魚會伸出觸角將它們扼死,。而體型較小的雄章魚則會模仿雌章魚的游姿偷偷接近母章魚,，還將代表雄性的褐色斑紋隱藏起來以避免引起懷疑。
章魚體形大小很重要,，此論文的作者,、加州大學(xué)伯克利分校的生物學(xué)教授羅伊·考德威爾（Roy Caldwell）說：“如果要花時間來守衛(wèi)雌性，肯定希望能找到一只最大的章魚,，因為它能產(chǎn)更多的卵,。這基本上是一種投資戰(zhàn)略。”考德威爾表示,，他相信在接近300種章魚的種群中,，這種行為是相當(dāng)普遍的。
這種雄性章魚有一種特殊的觸角,，能將一個精子袋注入雌性體中,，然后雌性章魚退入巢穴并產(chǎn)下上萬枚的卵。雌章魚產(chǎn)卵后不久,，雌雄章魚會雙雙死亡,，它們的孩子只好自己照料自己了。胡法德表示這不是縱欲過度而死,，而是在章魚只有1年的短暫壽命中只能產(chǎn)一次卵,。（來源：搜狐科學(xué) 元元）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Marine Biotechnology Volume 154, Number 2 10.1007/s00227-008-0930-2
Mating behavior of Abdopus aculeatus (d’Orbigny 1834) (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in the wild
Christine L. Huffard1, 2 , Roy L. Caldwell1 and Farnis Boneka3
(1) Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
(2) Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039-9644, USA
(3) Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Received: 1 March 2007 Accepted: 8 February 2008 Published online: 23 February 2008
Communicated by P. Kraufvelin.
Abstract The mating system of Abdopus aculeatus incorporates sneaker matings, mate guarding, sex-specific body patterns, frequent copulations, and male–male competition for mates, making it more similar to that of aggregating decapod cephalopods than any previously known octopus social system. Large male–female A. aculeatus occupy ‘Adjacent’ (GA) dens and copulate frequently in mate-guarding situations over successive days. Nearby individuals copulate in ‘Temporary guarding’ (GT) and ‘Transient’ (T; non-guarding) situations, the latter of which can involve ‘Sneaker’ (S) mating. In a focal animal study of these octopuses in the wild (Sulawesi, Indonesia) we addressed the hypotheses that they demonstrate: (1) precopulatory mate choice, (2) differential copulation rates by individuals employing different mating tactics, and (3) distant sex identification. We quantified daily copulation rates of A. aculeatus of reproductive size as well as aspects of copulation duration, display, mate-competition, and mate rejection. Mating tactic correlated with daily copulation rates. ♂GA spent significantly more time copulating than did ♂T, while ♀GA spent more than twice as much time per day in copula than did other females. Sneaker copulations lasted longer than those by males adopting other tactics. Mate-guarding was an effective and important tactic used by males to temporarily monopolize mating with apparently non-selective females. Males demonstrated clear pre-copulatory mate choice by guarding and mating repeatedly with large females (typically ♀GA). While foraging alone away from the den, ♂G procured ‘Transient’ copulations with unguarded females. However, mate-guarding reduced the amount of time ♂G were alone and may impede their ability to seek out new mates. Low-copulation rates by ♀T, the smallest female tactic on average, may reflect this trade-off between mate preference and mate-searching by males, or non-receptivity of some females. A male-typical body pattern (black and white stripes) appeared to facilitate distant sex identification. Although mating and aggression were often initiated before contact between individuals, same-sex copulations and intense male–female aggression were rare. By contrast frequent male–female copulations and intense male–male aggression were consistent behavioral components of mating in A. aculeatus at these sites. Because the behavioral and ecological characters conducive to this complex system are not exclusive to A. aculeatus, it is possible that other octopuses exhibit some or all of these behaviors.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00227-008-0930-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
