Octopus mothers slam themselves against rocks and eat their own arms before their eggs hatch. Scientists have discovered what leads to the self-destruction.
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00:00For most octopus moms, brooding eggs is the last thing she'll ever do. As her eggs get close to
00:13hatching, an octopus mother will self-destruct. She stops eating. She may tear at her own skin,
00:19bang her body against rocks, or even eat her own arms. Now researchers know why. When an octopus
00:27mom lays eggs, a set of glands near her eyes called the optic glands start amping up their
00:32production of certain components of cholesterol. These molecules seem to act as signals that kick
00:38off a fetal frenzy. The findings could help explain why an intelligent creature like the
00:46octopus lives for merely a year.
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