Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do octopuses care for their eggs?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
cephalopod
Blue-ringed octopus (genus Hapalochlaena).
Octopuses exhibit parental care by brooding their eggs, a behavior that distinguishes them from most other cephalopods.12
The female octopus typically attaches her eggs to a substrate, such as rocks or shells, either singly or in clusters. During the incubation period, which can last for several weeks or months depending on the species, the female remains with the eggs in her den. She actively cares for the developing embryos by aerating the egg clusters and keeping them clean of detritus.123
In the case of the argonaut, the female carries her eggs within a specialized shell she secretes. Generally, this intensive maternal investment continues until the eggs hatch, after which the female often dies.13