Optic gland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The optic glands are endocrine organs in the octopus and squid that play a role in sexual development and senescence. They lie between the brain and optic lobes.[1] The optic gland in female octopuses is associated with their maternal behavior of guarding their eggs without feeding.[2] This self-starvation results in the death of the female octopus before her eggs have hatched.[3] In captivity, some starving females also self-mutilate and entangle their arms in an apparent effort to die even faster.
