17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Octupuses having fun in the sun

While diving on the western shore of Mauritius we encountered two, what I believe to be, Day Octopuses (Octopus cyanea) while they were mating: the male inserts a specialized arm into the female's mantle where it deposits its spermatophores. They did not take note of me so I seized the opportunity to take their picture.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2019
Date Uploaded: 07.2019
Photo Location: Albion, Mauritius
Camera: NIKON D7100
Copyright: © Greet Meulepas