This Animal Has A Detachable Penis
By: NDTVNewsDesk
Image: X/@bmikelpeak
The Argonaut octopus is known to be the animal with a detachable penis.
Image: X/@bmikelpeak
Its detached penis is actually a sperm-carrying organ, called a hectocotylus, that detaches and swims to the female.
Image: X/@bmikelpeak
The Argonaut, or paper nautilus, is a type of octopus that lives in the ocean.
Image: X/@apostlenaut
Unlike most octopuses, they live in the open ocean, rather than on the seafloor.
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After mating, the hectocotylus detaches and swims to the female to deposit the sperm.
Image: X/@spturgon
The hectocotylus can move on its own and even defend itself if threatened.
Image: X/@BerndHofmann
The female Argonaut uses the stored sperm from one or more hectocotyli to fertilise her eggs.
Image: X/@BerndHofmann
The male, having given away his hectocotylus, is believed to die shortly after.
Image: X/@BerndHofmann
ndtv.com