リファレンス
Observations on the life history of the blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa.
Tranter, D. J., & Augustine, O. (1973). Marine Biology, 18(2), 115-128.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00348686
要旨（英文）
ヒョウモンダコの仲間の生活史
The life-history of the blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa (Hoyle) was observed in laboratory aquaria. Eggs from a brooding female were bred through to the next generation. The life cycle lasts approximately 7 months–4 months from hatching to maturity, 1 month from copulation to egg-laying, and an estimated 2 months for embryonic development. This venomous octopus has several unique and interesting habits. Eggs are not attached to a substratum but are carried by the mother throughout their embryonic life. She assumes a brooding posture for the greater part of the time and cradles the eggs between her raised skirt and body. However, she can move froely with her clutch of eggs, conveying them individually or in clusters along her arms from one sucker to the next as occasion demands. Embryos reverse position within their capsules 1 week prior to hatching, and hatch at the distal end of the capsule, mantle-first. Development is direct; there is no planktonic stage. The young immediately assume a benthic habit and, within a few hours, consume the remnant of the yolk-sac which they carry with them from the egg. Juveniles begin to feed on pieces of crab within a week of hatching, and to kill and eat live crabs within a month. They pierce the carapace of their prey at the abdominal articulation and with the aid, apparently, of venom from their posterior salivary glands suck out the partially pre-digested tissues. The ink gland is relatively small in size and is mainly used between the second and the fourth week of juvenile life. Chromatophores begin to function during embryonic life. After hatching there is a progressive change in coloration, and the iridescent blue rings which characterize the species appear at the age of about 6 weeks. Mating is a more active process than has been recorded for other octopuses. The male mounts the female and clasps her securely. After a short struggle the female becomes quite passive, almost inert. Copulation lasts about one hour. The unusual life-history of H. maculosa suggests that it is a highly evolved octopus species. Its direct development, simple diet, and rapid rate of growth make the animal relatively easy to cultivate for experimental or pharmacological purposes.
コメント
最近夜磯でヒョウモンダコが採集出来るのでその生態に関する文献を調査中．どうも日本で一般的ないわゆるヒョウモンダコはHapalochlaena fasciataという学名のようだが、この種についてはまだ発生の記載などが見つからない．同属のHapalpchlaena maculosaは大卵で孵化後すぐに着底するとのこと (マダコなどは孵化後しばらく浮遊性の幼体で過ごす)．イイダコなどと同じで飼いやすいのかもしれない．この種では一個体が150個ほどの卵を産卵，水温は20.8℃~22.5℃で飼育．この実験では25日程度で孵化したと報告されている．孵化稚仔はすぐに着底し，その後1週間ほどは餌に興味を示さず，共食いをしたようである．次第にカニの肉などを食べるようになり，4週間ほど経つと生きたカニを捕まえて食べるようになるとのことである．
