Octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish captivate us with their clever disguises and sophisticated behavior, and nowhere are these features more prominent than in the realm of reproduction. When it comes to finding a partner, cephalopods pull out all the stops. Some cuttlefish squirt inky backdrops to highlight their dazzling courtship displays. Others multitask, decorating one half of their bodies to seduce a mate while the other half flashes a warning to rivals. Argonaut octopuses pack one of their arms with sperm, then self-amputate and send the limb off on its own.
After fertilization, the situation gets even more incredible. Diamondback squid spin vivid pink egg spirals that bob at the surface. Market squid carpet the seafloor with ghostly egg fingers that repel predators even as the parents are devoured. Deep-sea octopuses set a world record: The mothers guard their eggs for over four years. After hatching, baby squid no bigger than rice grains can grow into adults longer than school buses. Some young squid dress up as venomous jellyfish, while others have a peculiar proboscis than unzips into tentacles. Biologist Danna Staaf leads a journey through the bizarre beauty of cephalopod life cycles.
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