FSM mating habits under investigation

[Warren Stupidity]

A very unusual octopus has scientists wondering just how well they really know the mysterious eight-armed creatures that inhabit the world's oceans.

The larger Pacific striped octopus, or LPSO for short, engages in a variety of odd behaviors — from startling prey into its outstretched arms with a sneaky tapping motion to suctioning onto its partner during mating. And if this cool behavior doesn't lure you in, the creature's appearance might. Despite its name, the "larger" striped octopus is very small, but it is bigger than its cousin, the lesser Pacific striped octopus (hence its name). And it's not just striped — it's also spotted. About the size of a tennis ball, with arms that stretch out just 8 inches (20 centimeters) or so, this striped-and-spotted octopus is definitely not a ship-swallowing sea monster.

Though scientists first observed the species in the 1970s, LPSOs have remained relatively unstudied until recently, said Roy Caldwell, a professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley, whose study outlining the LPSO's odd tendencies was published today

http://www.livescience.com/51836-bizarre-octopus-behavior.html

All they got is toast.