Octopus sex more sophisticated than arm-wrestling

For decades,scientists have viewed octopuses as unromantic loners, with matinghabits nearly devoid of complex behavior. But new research from theUniversity of California, Berkeley, has found that at least one speciesof octopus engages in such sophisticated lovemaking tactics asflirting, passionate handholding and keeping rivals at arms' length.

n the wild, researchersobserved macho octopuses that didn't just mate with the first femalethat crossed their path. Many picked out a specific sex partner andjealously guarded her den for several days, warding off rivals to thepoint of strangling them if they got too close. When flirting orfighting, they would signal their manliness by displaying striped bodypatterns.

Because they are such bashfulsea creatures, octopuses' mating rituals have been hard to get a handleon. "They're obsessively secretive, solitary and pretty spooky,"Caldwell said. "If you watch them, they watch you back. It's hard tostudy them."