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Kōrero: Octopus and squid

Octopus tending her eggs

Video file

Female octopus lay their eggs in clusters and attach them to rocky overhangs. Unlike many shellfish, octopus give lots of maternal care to their developing embryos. This mother is guarding her eggs, and carefully cleans them with her tentacles. She does not eat until they hatch, by which time she is exhausted. She usually dies soon after her offspring have swum away.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Natural History New Zealand

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Maggy Wassilieff rāua ko Steve O’Shea, Octopus and squid – Life history, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/video/7910/octopus-tending-her-eggs (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Maggy Wassilieff rāua ko Steve O’Shea, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.