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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00:07 For most octopus moms, brooding eggs is the last thing she'll ever do.
00:11 As her eggs get close to hatching, an octopus mother will self-destruct.
00:16 She stops eating. She may tear at her own skin,
00:19 bang her body against rocks, or even eat her own arms.
00:23 Now researchers know why. When an octopus mom lays eggs,
00:28 a set of glands near her eyes called the optic glands start amping up
00:32 their production of certain components of cholesterol.
00:35 These molecules seem to act as signals that kick off a fetal frenzy.
00:41 The findings could help explain why an intelligent creature like the octopus
00:47 lives for merely a year.
00:51 [Music]