2002/10/01 by R. C. Anderson, James B. Wood, Ruth A. Byrne · 6 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Chemistry · Neuroscience · #Cephalopods and Marine Biology #Chemical synthesis and alkaloids #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
paper · doi:10.1207/s15327604jaws0504_02
openalex publication_date 2002/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Senescence is a normal stage of an octopus's life cycle that often occurs before death. Some of the following symptoms typify it: lack of feeding, retraction of skin around the eyes, uncoordinated movement, increased undirected activity, and white unhealing lesions on the body. There is inter- and intraspecific variability. Senescence is not a disease or a result of disease, although diseases can also be a symptom of it. Both males and females go through a senescent stage before dying-the males after mating, the females while brooding eggs and after the eggs hatch. There are many aspects of octopus senescence that have not yet been studied. This study discusses the ecological implications of senescence.