Same Sex Mating

It has recently been discovered that same sex mating occurs in O. deletron. Implanted sperm packages from male squids have been found on similar body locations on females and other males. This indicates that the male regularly and indiscriminately mates with both sexes. In a study conducted by Hoving et al. in 2011, 108 specimens were reviewed via video footage taken from Monetery Submarine Canyon, CA. Of the 39 animals that they could differentiate a sex for, 19 were female and 20 were male. Nine males and 10 females all had spermatangia deposited on both dorsal and ventral body locations, indicating that males are as likely to mate with other males as they are to mate with females.

There have been many discussions as to why this is. It could be because O.deletron lives at a depth were there is not much sunlight, inhibiting their ability to distinguish different sexes. This behavior could also be a result of the squid's reproductive period. Squids usually have a very short reproductive period and death follows soon after. Because this period is so short, it can be difficult to locate a mate of the opposite sex, especially if one cannot differentiate between sexes. As a result of this short period and imminent death, the octopus squid will mate with whatever sex of O. deletron that it passes by in order to increase its chances of having a successful mating, thereby exemplifying the 'live fast, die young' strategy.