New Zealand Seashore

DSC_0099 Hutton's Octopus (Octopus huttoni) female guarding fully developed young about to emerge from eggs. Unlike many molluscs, octopus provide maternal care to their developing embryos. Here the majority of eggs are wrapped beneath the thin membrane between her tentacles. A small cluster of fully developed 'freckled' eggs can be seen at the top, just right of centre. Aquarium Point, Otago Harbour *

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DSC_0099 Hutton's Octopus (Octopus huttoni) female guarding fully developed young about to emerge from eggs. Unlike many molluscs, octopus provide maternal care to their developing embryos. Here the majority of eggs are wrapped beneath the thin membrane between her tentacles. A small cluster of fully developed 'freckled' eggs can be seen at the top, just right of centre. Aquarium Point, Otago Harbour *

DSC 0125 Hutton's Octopus Octopus huttoni detail eggs developed female guarding young mollusc eyes pigment cells Aquarium Point Otago Harbour