True Facts: The Bizarre Ways Cephalopods Make Bebes
Join me at https://www.patreon.com/truefacts/
Merch: https://ze-true-store.myshopify.com/
TF Educational channel: @truefactseducational9288
Apostólico, L.H., Marian, J.E.A.R. Dimorphic male squid show differential gonadal and ejaculate expenditure. Hydrobiologia 808, 5–22 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3145-z
Apostólico LH, Marian JEAR. Getting a grip on the squid hectocotylus: Sexually dimorphic glandular system underlies spermatophore transfer in Doryteuthis pleii. Zoology (Jena, Germany). 2026 Mar;175:126328. DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2026.126328. PMID: 41855842.
Arkhipkin, A., & Laptikhovsky, V. (2010). Observation of penis elongation in Onykia ingens. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 76(3), 299–300. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyq019
Battaglia, P. et al. (2021). When nature continues to surprise: observations of the hectocotylus of Argonauta argo. The European Zoological Journal, 88(1), 980–986. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750263.2021.1970260
Cuccu, Danila et al. (2013). Development of sexual organs and fecundity in Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 from the Sardinian waters. Mediterranean Marine Science. 14. 270. 10.12681/mms.412.
García-Flores, M.et al. (2019). Morphological and histological description of the reproductive system of Octopus hubbsorum . Invertebrate Reproduction & Development, 63(4), 268–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/07924259.2019.1646674
Hall, K.C., & Hanlon, R.T. (2002). Principal features of the mating system of a large spawning aggregation of the giant Australian cuttlefish Sepiaapama (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Marine Biology, 140, 533-545.
Huffard, C. L., & Bartick, M. (2015). Wild Wunderpus photogenicus and Octopus cyanea employ asphyxiating ‘constricting’ in interactions with other octopuses. Molluscan Research, 35(1), 12–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2014.909558
Iwata Y, et al. How female squid inseminate their eggs with stored sperm. Curr Biol. 2019 Jan 21;29(2):R48-R49. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.12.010. PMID: 30668945.
Morse P and Huffard CL (2019) Tactical Tentacles: New Insights on the Processes of Sexual Selection Among the Cephalopoda. Front. Physiol. 10:1035. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01035
Ibáñez CM et al. (2019) Sexual Selection and the Evolution of Male Reproductive Traits in Benthic Octopuses. Front. Physiol. 10:1238. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01238
López Galán A. et al. (2020) Dynamic Courtship Signals and Mate Preferences in Sepia plangon. Front. Physiol. 11:845. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00845
Marian JE. Spermatophoric reaction reappraised: novel insights into the functioning of the loliginid spermatophore based on Doryteuthis plei. J Morphol. 2012 Mar;273(3):248-78. doi: 10.1002/jmor.11020. Epub 2011 Sep 28. PMID: 21956428.
Nakayama A. et al. Ritualized ink use during visual courtship display by males of the sexually dimorphic cuttlefish Sepia andreana. Ecol Evol. 2024 Feb 2;14(2):e10852. doi: 10.1002/ece3.10852. PMID: 38314312; PMCID: PMC10835506.
Noriyosi Sato et al. High-speed camera observations of copulatory behaviour in Idiosepius paradoxus: function of the dimorphic hectocotyli, Journal of Molluscan Studies, Volume 79, Issue 2, May 2013, Pages 183–186, https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyt005
Sato N, Kasugai T, Munehara H. Spermatangium formation and sperm discharge in the Japanese pygmy squid Idiosepius paradoxus. Zoology (Jena). 2014 Jun;117(3):192-9. doi: 10.1016/j.zool.2014.02.001. Epub 2014 Apr 18. PMID: 24813852.
Sato, Noriyosi et al. “Sperm transfer or spermatangia removal: postcopulatory behaviour of picking up spermatangium by female Japanese pygmy squid.” Marine Biology 160 (2012): 553 – 561.
Schnell, A.K. et al. Female receptivity, mating history, and familiarity influence the mating behavior of cuttlefish. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 69, 283–292 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-014-1841-5
So Ryung Shin, Jung Jun Park, Jung Sick Lee. Spermatophore formation in Todarodes pacificus, Tissue and Cell, Volume 104, Part 2,2027,103985, ISSN 0040-8166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tice.2026.103985.
Villar P. S. et al. ,A sensory system for mating in octopus.Science392,96-101(2026).DOI:10.1126/science.aec9652
Vlasova, E.V., Sabirov, R.M., Golikov, A.V. Reproductive Biology of the Golden Cuttlefish Sepia esculenta (Cephalopoda, Sepiida). Diversity 2023, 15, 455. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030455
Wada, T., Takegaki, T., Mori, T. et al. Sperm displacement behavior of the cuttlefish Sepia esculenta (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae). J Ethol 23, 85–92 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0146-6
Wodinsky, J. Reversal and transfer of spermatophores by Octopus vulgaris and O. hummelincki . Mar Biol 155, 91–103 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-1010-3
Yamamoto, J., Adachi, K., Bower, J.R. et al. Close-up observations on the spawning behavior of a captive Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus). Sci Rep 9, 19739 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56071-0

@丨CONTRIVANCE
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Ha! sperm grenade, if that put her in the mood, she's a keeper. 🤓
@cheerful_something_something
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Octopuses!
🙂
@SallySockPuppet
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Thanks Gerry for that great 70s corn music!!!!!!
@Amy-u9g
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
He likes the big girls.
Aint no shame.
@kellymoses8566
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
It is so weird that Ze Frank's dad is a Nobel Prize winning scientist.
@Kickthelighter
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
It wouldn't be my hand 😂😂😂
@baldknobfarmstead5167
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
The last time I went to the Seattle Aquarium there were so many different animals on display like sealions and jellyfish and the interactive petting pool but the one thing that I absolutely loved and my absolutely most favorite part of the whole entire three or four hour journey, was the cuttlefish. I absolutely love them and went back several times to interact with them and they looked at you like they knew what was going on. Too bad they don't live longer.
@anabee8310
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
The education version of this one is gonna be quite something
@theboywhosawawomansbreast
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Hand all up in a cephalopod.
@klebendesetwas4854
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
YAY! tentacle porn 😅🤣😅🤣😂😅
@unanimouslyboring
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Sexessary is so nexessary lol
@yaphetgreen0222
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Fun fact: octopi have the longest egg incubation period of all known species, some observed to have patiently waited about four years for their eggs to hatch!
@Funnyfish66
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Gross
@MinnesotaRain
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Clicked cuz “ babes “ 😂❤
@cherrymoon9961
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Ok that Outtro song is stuck in my head I need a music video now 😂
@Airsquest
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Damn – and I thought finding the G-spot was tough 😮💨
@JHo-o5q
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Am I…horny?
@felix-cortes-schoeler
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
I am beyond chuffed to learn that an actual scientific paper is titled "Tactical Tentacles"!!!!
@PatTom-j5w
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
What about the nautilus?
@tl270
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
2:13 so why jerked off the squid
@kingeryck1
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
10:05 I woke up this morning and my penis was missing again. This happens all the time. It's detachable.
@missryanswers
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
"oh man" 🤣🤣🤣
@JustAdude-c4h
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Ok they are clearly the most alien creature on Earth. The moment i saw the autonomous pen arm that thinks on its own, i knew it was so.
@joeschianodicola1810
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
i would love to hear a collab song by ZeFrank and Marc Rebillet. Slap That Grenade already has that vibe!
@alyfferalves593
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
The plural of octopus is octopi
@Grobohalic
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
1:02 it is a well-known fact that the interestingness of an animal is directly proportional to how hard to find their butthole is
@ogclobyy
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
The custom made song at the end gave me Pixar vibes 😂
@largelafarge
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Bro I’m eating my lunch
@alexwyman7048
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Loved this video, but considering the closing argument with Jerry, I'm surprised you didn't bust out "If You Look Hard Enough" as the closing number lol.
@PsychoKupcake
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
Octopuses is the correct pluralization. Also, octopodes. Not octopi.
@noelhutchins7366
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
spernades; snot-rockets mid contributions
@BradRudy-e9c
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
I fully support your right to choose whichever plural form of Octopus you desire.
However,
You're wrong
@courtneyc5605
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
There’s a song by the Butthole Surfers called “detachable penis” that I haven’t thought about in years, but this video made me remember it
@jpfionawars
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
"aww mannn" lol
@teresayates8274
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
I never get tired of watching these! 😅🤣😂
@sonuupadhyaya2813
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
that thing right there is certainly not human!
@Diverse_Interests
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
lol! 😂 laughed so hard tears streamed. Nerding with ze frank is the best.
@adammaust6177
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
❤❤❤❤❤❤
@ayefo7800
November 9, 2026 at 2:18 am
The outro song is top tier 😂😂😂😂😂