Octopus eggs guarded by a real-life "Octomom" off the California Coast has just been dubbed as best parenting in the animal world, reports Scientific American. The act of the octopus eggs guarded by the octopus mom was probably one of the best, or the best case of extreme parenting seen in the animal kingdom as "Octomom" clutched on to her offspring for four and a half years without even eating.
Because the octopus eggs guarded by "Octomom" spanned at least four years, many scientists are saying that it is a record in the animal kingdom. Octomom" has just set the longest egg-tending record for any animal in the world, with the most outlandishly long egg development ever seen.
According to Live Science, the record of the octopus eggs guarded by "Octomom" is the longest brooding period ever seen in any known animal on the planet. A new study is saying that the record is even longer than what elephants and emperor penguins are able to endure.
Brad Seibel, an animal physiologist at the University of Rhode Island said of the record of octopus eggs guarded by "Octomom", 'This is the longest brooding or gestation of any animal on the planet.'
The deep-sea octopus is also called "Graneledone boreopacifica," reports The Los Angeles Times. The marine animal reportedly produces a relatively small number of eggs which ranges between 155 and 165. From the beginning of their birth, an "octomom" watches over them until the hatchlings are already well developed, which makes them more capable of surviving in the outside world.
The LA Times said that what makes the story of the octopus eggs guarded by "Octomom" is that the "octomom" did not show any signs of consuming food during her 4 ½ year brooding period.
Seibel said of octopus eggs guarded by "Octomom", 'I think she keeps them clean, keeps sediment from accumulating on them.'
Seibel added, 'Also, the oxygen level is fairly low down there, so she may ventilate the eggs by blowing water across them.'
Live Science said that "Octomom" had her arms curled up over her 160 eggs the whole time. Occasionally though, she was able to smack away crustaceans that gets too close to the eggs. As she kept the octopus eggs guarded, she also reportedly resisted the temptation of eating crabmeat offered by the ROV's robotic arm.
Of course, the sacrifice of keeping the octopus eggs guarded is no easy task. Eventually, the act took its toll on "Octomom's" health. The lack eventually affects her health. A video of "Octomom" keeping the octopus eggs guarded shows the old octopus shrivelling away.
Watching the eggs took a toll on Octomom's body, for a cephalopod, she looked old. Her mantle shrank, her eyes got cloudy and her skin sagged and faded in color as well. When her babies hatched fully developed, "octomom" reportedly wasted entirely into the wind.
According to Live Science, the last time Robison and his colleagues saw "Octomom" was September of 2011. As the monthe quickly passed, October 2011 seemed to have just flown away.
Reports say that the hatch was successful as her egg capsules were seen left in tatters, and a half dozen young octopuses floated nearby.
Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute only made the discovery of the octopus eggs guarded was only revealed in luck in the last few years. The team was able to locate "octomom" just weeks after she laid her eggs.
A paper published Wednesday in the journal "PLOS One" came out.
While the research conducted of the octopus eggs guarded began way back 2007, it was accidental as the team only intended to take a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) out for a spin in the Monterey Submarine Canyon.
When the team came across an isolated rocky projection on the ocean floor, they found the octopus eggs guarded by "Octomom," about 4,600 feet down.
Senior Scientist Bruce Robison at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), together with colleagues had reportedly been using the ROV to spy on squid, fishes and jellies that live closer to the surface.
Robison said, 'On a lark one day, we said let's go to the bottom and see what's there.'
The LA Times said that when the ROV came back to the same spot 38 days later, the team saw the same octopus and octopus eggs guarded.
"Octomom" was reported to be suspended on the rocks. She was guarding a clutch of eggs. "Octomom" was identified through a scar on the webbing between her legs.
Fox News reports that Robison and his colleagues grabbed the opportunity of studying the octopus eggs guarded by "octomom", even though deep sea creatures weren't part of their study. They were perhaps curious about watching the species brood from beginning till end, but they didn't expect to be watching "Octomom" for at least four years.
It was during their last visit in Sept. 2011 that they found the oblong egg sacs torn and empty, "Octomom" having octopus eggs guarded, gone.
What's reportedly so surprising is the fact octopuses are not generally long lived creatures. Most octopuses only last for two to three years.
Octopus eggs guarded by the patient "octomom" is a case illustrating how some animals have begun taxing strategies just to make sure their offspring will survive in a hostile environment.
Voight said, 'In the deep sea, we have so much to discover. There is still much to learn about the life history of deep sea cephalopods.'
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
