In mature males, this organ may be up to one fifth the length of the arm. Mating may occur at depths from 20 - 100 m, and takes several hours. Males may mate with more than one female and females appear to prefer larger males as mates. Eggs are laid some time after mating. The females brood the eggs, at which time they stop feeding.
Females die shortly after the eggs hatch.
Males may live a few months after mating. Maximum life span in the absence of reproduction is believed to be five years. Back to Amikuq page.