Octopi fighting or mating

[Bogie]

Dove Breakwater in Monterey today and came across several Octopi

Took this picture of two of these cute critters.

Don't know if they are fighting or mating.

 

[deadbilly]

If one of them had an arm shoved up under the mantle of the other, they were almost definitely mating. Cool find!

 

[3D diver]

Pretty cool. I've been hearing reports of octopus sightings lately & was tickled to see 3 Sunday---two near each other on my way out to the Metridiums and another along the breakwater.

 

[drbill]

Hard to tell from the still but deadbilly has a key to knowing.

Of course mating and fighting may be related. I've seen males overwhelm females with brute force while the lady did protest... and I've seen ladies ink a potential lover to tell him "no way."

 

[dwashbur]

Would that be the octopus equivalent of pepper spray?????

 

[socaljohn]

Of course mating and fighting may be related. I've seen males overwhelm females with brute force while the lady did protest... and I've seen ladies ink a potential lover to tell him "no way."

Ink means Ink (translation-No means No)