Scientists Spotted An Octopus ‘Guarding’ Something, And Then They Realized Why

For 25 years, a team of Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) researchers, under the leadership of marine biologist Bruce Robison, has conducted studies on deep-sea creatures at “Midwater 1.” What’s that, you ask? Midwater 1 is a site earmarked for further study, located in Monterey Canyon. While they have witnessed plenty of intriguing events during their time underwater, Bruce and his team would soon witness a phenomenon unlike any other...

Robinson’s team decided to perform one of their routine surveys of Midwater 1 come May 2007. Hoping to collect new data for scientific research, the team decided to plunge into the ocean depths using its state-of-the-art audio and visual technologies. Fortunately, the researchers didn’t have to wait long for their first sighting.

Considering that it travels one mile deep underwater, any survey of the Monterey Canyon is expected to take time. Still, upon reaching 4,600 feet, Robertson and his crew made an exciting discovery. A female octopus was clinging to the edge of a rocky ledge just above the ocean floor. For a creature capable of swimming, this seemed like a peculiar act.

While the octopus didn’t seem to be doing anything of note at first, the researchers were keen to learn more about this creature. Why, you ask? Well, this would be because of the many facts that make the octopus such a fascinating species.

In addition to its mind-boggling anatomy, the octopus is fascinating because of its high intelligence. A master of camouflage and poisonous, this creature is capable of using tools to solve its everyday problems, for example, by transforming coconut shells into shelters. And this isn’t even the full extent of this species’ wonders.

While highly intelligent and resourceful, octopi have an incredibly short lifespan of about five years max. What’s more, most of them will only breed once in their lifetime. This means that time is incredibly precious to these sensitive and intuitive creatures. So what was the octopus doing just sitting in the depths of the Monterey Canyon?

When the researchers first happened upon the octopus, it was attached to a ledge. They were sure it hadn’t been there during a previous dive, so this was their first sighting of it. And it seemed to be covering something with its body. What on earth could she be hiding?

At first, the research team wasn’t that besotted with the octopus. While an interesting find, they had no idea that the octopus had a secret that was far more intriguing than they had imagined. Still, the team had a job to do, which meant performing future dives at this site on a regular basis.

Upon returning after their first encounter with the octopus, the researchers were surprised to find this creature still planted in the same spot. What was so special about this particular place? The creature was still alive, that was for sure, but it certainly hadn’t moved since their last visit. Odd to say the least...

As the divers inspected the octopus more closely, they discovered scars of varying sizes across her body. This magnificent sea creature had clearly been in a number of underwater scraps with others. And whatever she was guarding must have been of paramount importance.

Contrary to prior belief, the octopus was not guarding just one object. She was actually guarding 160 small items, with her eight arms curled tightly around them. The research team continued to visit this same spot for four and a half years — making 18 trips in total. As time progressed, the octopus’s mystery was slowly unraveled.

The researchers discovered that, in addition to not seeking food, the octopus had taken no notice of the tiny crabs and shrimps that had been going past her. Clearly, she had a job to do. As the months passed, the translucent eggs under her tentacles grew significantly. The octopus was going to be a mother. But was she really taking care of these eggs for all four and a half years?

With her skin becoming pale and loose, the octopus would still not take any food. Yes, other living things around her continued to get a free pass! While her priority towards her unborn offspring is understandable, something else made the octopus’s actions a particularly impressive feat.

You see, octopus eggs take two to ten months to hatch after being laid. In this case, however, the MBARI researchers discovered that this mother octopus had been waiting for her eggs to hatch... for over four years! That's the longest brooding period ever recorded for any animal! What’s more, the octopus in this scenario proved to have extreme survival skills.

For the entire period that she looked after her eggs, the octopus had refused to leave their side. Years going without food would be something astounding to most of us, of course. But what would be the fate of this tirelessly dedicated matriarch?

September 2011 was the last time that the research divers would see the octopus. One month later, they returned to the same spot only to find that the octopus was gone. At the same time, they spotted the remains of empty egg capsules. Thus the MBARI was soon able to decipher the entirety of what had happened.

While the fate of the baby octopi is open to interpretation, the MBARI research team was fairly certain that they were alive and well. Because they live in such chilly waters, unborn octopi need time to develop before they hatch. So this female octopus’s offspring should have been more than ready to survive in the ocean on their own and hunt for small prey. But what of their mother?

Well, the octopus has a breeding strategy called semelparity, meaning that it will go through pregnancy once and will die soon after giving birth. While it may seem harsh, this strategy enables this species to maximize its breeding potential. While a sad end for the mother octopus, her story provided some important biological insights.

During its research, MBARI highlighted that the deeper in the ocean an octopus lives, the longer it typically takes for its eggs to hatch. So this had resulted in deep-sea octopuses, such as the one in the Monterey Canyon, having longer lifespans than their shallow-water counterparts. Ultimately, there is a strong lesson to be learned.

This story shows the lengths that a mother octopus will go to for her young, no matter the circumstances. The fact that an octopus will actually live longer should her eggs take longer to hatch, proves the dedication that she has for her young. So perhaps this octopus mom serves as an example to us humans — when it comes to our own parenthood.