The male octopus penis is called a hectocotylus. It is typically the third tentacle and holds rows of sperm. After copulation, the hectocotylus breaks off and grows back over time. The female cares for her eggs until they hatch, she will not feed the entire three months and typically dies when the young are born. The female can lay 20,000 to 100,000 eggs at a time. Copulation varies among species, some females break off the hectocotylus and save it for later, and some the males break it off, handing it over to the female to use as she wishes.

Reproductive System