In the perilous world of cephalopod romance, male blue-lined octopuses have evolved a shocking strategy to survive mating.

Male blue-lined octopuses inject females with venom during mating to avoid being eaten, temporarily paralyzing their partners, a new study has found. The blue-lined octopus (Hapalochlaena fasciata) is a small yet highly poisonous cephalopod commonly found in shallow reefs and tide pools.

Male blue-lined octopuses inject a powerful neurotoxin into the hearts of females before mating to avoid being eaten, according to a new study.