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The Swimming Penis
Male argonaut octopuses have a detachable, sperm-filled arm that swims to the female on its own — scientists originally thought it was a parasitic worm.
Argonaut Octopus
Argonauta
These remarkable cephalopods have evolved one of the most unusual methods of sperm delivery in the animal kingdom.
Vital Stats
🏷️ TypeOctopus (cephalopod)
🌍 Found InOpen oceans worldwide — tropical and subtropical waters
📏 SizeFemales: 10-30cm (shell 30-45cm) | Males: 1-2cm
⏳ Lifespan~1 year
💕 Mating SystemMales sacrifice detachable arm loaded with sperm
👶 OffspringFemales carry eggs in shell; ~50,000 eggs
🍆 Penis Size2 cm
⏱️ Sex Duration1 minute
🔬 Notable AnatomyMale's hectocotylus (sex arm) detaches and swims to female independently; first scientists thought it was a parasitic worm
⚖️ Sexual DimorphismExtreme — females 10-15x larger than males