User:Blainethesquirrel/Octopus sinensis

Physiology[edi
The East Asian common octopus goes through a several-week planktonic phase, in which they are floating in the open sea. This occurs early in their development prior to their permanent benthic habitation, similar to many benthic octopus species. During their planktonic phase, the morphology of the East Asian common octopus is similar in morphology to the juvenile and adult life forms and is termed the paralarval stage after the octopus hatches. The paralarvae have certain characteristics that differ from the adult stage, which allow them to thrive in the planktonic phase, such as transparent musculature, circular pupils rather than horizontal ones, a proportionately larger mantle (2.1 mm in length) and shorter arms with fewer suckers (three to four on each arm), and a finely toothed beak. However, not much is known about the early life stages of the East Asian common octopus in their natural habitat due to their cryptic and allusive behavior. Recent studies suggest that transition from the planktonic stage to the benthic settlement is quite complex in O. sinensis and takes them a significant amount of time.

Further recent studies about the transition period between planktonic and benthic periods found that clinging behavior occurs during the day and that swimming occurs at night. A recent study looked at body development during the transition period and found there are four main stages of body development. The first is during the paralarvae period. During this period, the number of suckers on the arms increase. During the second stage, arm length increases rapidly. The third stage starts a benthic phase in which arm length grows longer than mantel length. The fourth stage ends with the octopus having adult body proportions.

Life Stages

Main life stages include planktonic paralarvae, transition, benthic, adult and reproductive stages. During the reproductive stage, males mature and mate sooner than do females though both spawn with multiple partners. After spawning, the females cover the eggs and oxygenate them. The females eat before spawning and then do not eat while caring for the eggs. The females die within 34 days of starting to care for eggs.