Abstract
Female Octopus vulgaris Cuvier mated in the laboratory in every month tested. Females maintained in isolation after capture and not mated in the laboratory laid eggs, fertile and infertile, each month of the year. The longest period of sperm viability was 104 days. Young specimens weighing between 4.0 and 66.0 g were found regularly. It is concluded that O. vulgaris breeds throughout the year, at least in Bahamian waters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Boycott, B. B.: Learning in Octopus vulgaris and other cephalopods. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli 25, 67–93 (1954).
Cowdry, E. V.: The color changes of Octopus vulgaris Lmk. Univ. Toronto Stud. biol. Ser. 10, 1–53 (1911).
Dew, B.: Some observations on the development of two Australian octopuses. Proc. R. zool. Soc. N. S. W. 1957/1958, 44–52 (1959).
Gravely, F. H.: Notes on the spawning of Eledone and on the occurrence of Eledone with the suckers in double rows. Mem. Proc. Manchr lit. phil. Soc. 53, 1–14 (1908).
Heldt, J. H.: Observations sur une ponte d'Octopus vulgaris Lmk. Bull. Soc. Sci. nat. Tunis 1, 87–90 (1948).
Itami, K., Y. Izawa, S. Maeda and K. Nakai: Notes on the laboratory culture of the Octopus larvae. Bull. Jap. Soc. scient. Fish. 29, 514–520 (1963).
Lee, H.: The octopus, 114 pp. London: Chapman & Hall 1875.
Le Souef, A. S. and J. K. Allan: Habits of the Sydney octopus (Octopus cyaneus) in captivity. Aust. Zool. 7, 373–377 (1933).
Lo Bianco, S.: Notizie biologiche riguardanti specialmente il periodo di maturita sessuale degli animali del golfo di Napoli. Mitt. zool. Stn Neapel 19, 513–761 (1909).
Mangold-Wirz, K.: Biologie des céphalodes benthiques et nectoniques de la Mer Catalane. Vie Milieu (Suppl.) 13, 1–285 (1963).
Nixon, M.: The lifespan of Octopus vulgaris Lamarck. Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 38, 529–540 (1969).
—: Some parameters of growth in Octopus vulgaris. J. Zool. London 163, 277–284 (1971).
Pickford, G. E. and B. H. McConnaughey: The Octopus bimaculatus problem, a study in sibling species. Bull. Bingham oceanogr. Coll. 12, 1–66 (1949).
Rees, W. J.: The distribution of Octopus vulgaris Lamarck in British waters. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 29, 361–378 (1950).
—: The Macrotritopus problem. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool. 4, 67–100 (1954).
—: Notes on the Euroean species of Eledone. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (D) 3, 283–293 (1956).
— and J. R. Lumby: The abundance of Octopus in the English Channel. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 33, 515–536 (1954).
Richard, A.: La température, facteur externe essentiel de croissance pour le céphalopode Sepia olficinalis L. C. r. hebd. Séane. Acad. Sci., Paris (Serie D) 263, 1138–1141 (1966a).
—: Action de la température sur l'evolution génitale de Sepia officinalis L. C.r. hebd. Séanc. Aca. Sci., Paris (Serie D) 263, 1998–2001 (1966b).
Taki, I.: Studies on Octopus 2. The sex and genital organs. [In Jap.] Jap. J. Malac. 19, 267–310 (1944).
Wells, M. J.: Optic glands and the ovary of Octopus. Symp. zool. Soc. Lond. 2, 87–107 (1960).
— and J. Wells: Hormonal control of sexual maturity in Octopus. J. exp. Biol. 36, 1–33 (1959).
Wolterding, M. R.: The rearing and maintenance of Octopus briareus in the laboratory, with aspects of their behavior and biology, 112 pp. M. A. Thesis. University of Miami 1971.
Woods, J.: Octopus-watching off Capri. Animals 7, 324–327 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wodinsky, J. Breeding season of Octopus vulgaris . Marine Biology 16, 59–63 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347848
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347848