Thousands of Octopus Moms Are Using Geothermal Springs as Egg Incubators

June 4, 2024 Doris de Luna

Octopus moms are among the greatest mothers in the animal kingdom.

Upon laying her eggs, the octopus mom guards them as she waits for them to hatch, which may take two months or up to two years, depending on the species. She does not eat, she does not leave, and she keeps on tenderly wafting currents over her eggs to continuously supply them with oxygenated water. Yes, she absolutely has no rest.

Photo: YouTube/CBC Docs

As a matter of fact, one deep-sea octopus, a female Graneledone boreopacifica, holds the record for the longest egg-tending duty, which lasted 53 months. She tended and protected her more than 160 eggs until they hatched, while she faded away.

However, during a virtual talk at the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022, James Barry, a senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), revealed that thousands of octopus moms in California are intelligent enough to cut their breeding period by 90%. And they do this by using the geothermal springs in Davidson Seamount as incubators for their eggs.

The Discovery of Octopus Garden in Davidson Seamount

Davidson Seamount is an inactive volcano about 129 kilometers to the southwest of Monterey Bay. It is also known as the "Oasis in the Deep," for hosting extensive sponge fields, coral forests, and an amazing diversity of marine life.

Photo: YouTube/EVNautilus

The discovery of an Octopus Garden on this seamount was made in October 2018 by a team of researchers from MBARI and the Ocean Exploration Trust aboard E/V Nautilus.

Chad King, from MBARI, and his colleagues were surprised to see a cluster of deep-sea octopuses (Muusoctopus robustus) in a deserted part of the seamount. Upon noticing the presence of a geothermal vent, which may be the reason for the octopuses' congregation, they decided to investigate the area further.

Photo: YouTube/EVNautilus

“Within minutes, that’s when we started seeing hundreds and hundreds of these octopuses,” recounted King. He and his team later returned to the spot and measured the temperature of the water coming out of the vents. Unlike the usually cold deep ocean waters, water near the vents measured as high as 10 degrees Celsius. The warmth of the geothermal springs was speeding up egg-hatching at the newly-discovered Octopus Garden!

Shorter Hatch Times May Be Best for Octopus Babies, Just as Their Moms Would Want

Water temperature in Davidson Seamount is typically 1.6 degrees Celsius, and when it's that cold, the hatching takes a very long time. According to Barry, it may even take as long as 12 years or more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkKNWE1n8Ac

But, in this octopus nursery at Davidson Seamount, octopus moms are hatching their eggs in less than two years. This short period gives the octopus babies a better chance of escaping predators and surviving into adulthood. And it's quite a help to their mothers too!

With just 1% of Davidson Seamount having been explored, scientists are looking forward to more expeditions and thrilling discoveries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHR70lVy79Y&t=19s

Doris de Luna

For more than 20 years now, I’ve been devoting my heart, energy, and time to fulfilling my dream, which – many people may agree – is not among the easiest aspirations in life. Part of my happiness is having been able to lend a hand to many individuals, companies, and even governments as an investigative journalist, creative writer, TV director, and radio broadcaster.

At home, I spend my free time learning how to cook various cuisines. Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and banoffee pie are my favorite desserts. Playing with our dogs, Mushu and Jerusalem, is also a special part of my day. And, of course, I read a lot – almost anything under the sun. But what really makes me feel alive is meeting people from various walks of life and writing about their stories, which echo with the tears and triumph of an unyielding spirit, humanity, and wisdom.

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The Discovery of Octopus Garden in Davidson Seamount

Shorter Hatch Times May Be Best for Octopus Babies, Just as Their Moms Would Want

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