Longest Egg-Brooding Period

[ysabetwordsmith]

 ... belongs to a deep-sea octopus and lasts four and a half years.

Comments

[cmcmck]

Which is remarkable when you consider how comparatively short lived for such complex creatures octopi are.

Talking of which, have you read Peter Godfrey-Smith's 'Other Minds'?

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Which is remarkable when you consider how comparatively short lived for such complex creatures octopi are.<<

Yes. The article attributes it to the cold water slowing their metabolism. The eggs mature slower, but the female's reserves last longer.

>> Talking of which, have you read Peter Godfrey-Smith's 'Other Minds'? <<

Doesn't ring a bell.

Re: Thoughts

[cmcmck]

It's about octopi as complex sentient beings and I'd highly recommend!