User:Destinyxecology/Blue-ringed octopus

[edit] contributions to Reproduction (Draft)
This section will go underneath the previous work.

Mating behavior
In the Southern Blue ringed octopus, body mass is observed to be the strongest factor that influence copulatory rates. Evidence of female preference of larger males is apparent, although no male preference of females is shown. In this species, it is suggested that males expend more effort than females to initiate copulation. Additionally, it is unlikely that males use odor cues to identify females to mate with. Male-male mounting attempts are common in H. maculosa, proposing that there is no discrimination between gender. Male Blue-ringed octopus will adjust mating durations based on the females recent mating history. Termination of copulation is not likely to happen with a female if she has not yet mated with another male. Duration length of mating is also found to be longer in these cases as well.

Conservation
Currently, the Blue-ringed octopus population information is listed unknown according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Although, threats such as bioprospecting, habitat fragmentation and degradation, overfishing and human disturbance as well as species collections for aquarium trade may be threats to population numbers. It is possible that Hapalochlaena contribute to a variety of advantages to marine conservation. This genera of octopus provide stability of habitat biodiversity as well as expand the balance of marine food webs. Various species of Blue-ringed octopus may help control populations of Asian date mussels. Additionally, future research of tetrodotoxins produced by the Blue-ringed octopus may produce new medicinal discoveries.