Here's why:
* Maternal Care: Female octopuses devote themselves entirely to caring for their eggs. They stop eating and rely on their stored energy reserves.
* Self-Sacrifice: They constantly clean and protect their eggs, ensuring they have the best chance of survival. This dedication comes at a cost, as the female octopus weakens and eventually dies shortly after the eggs hatch.
This behavior is known as semelparity, where an organism reproduces only once in its lifetime and then dies.