This story appears in the July 2019 issue of National Geographic magazine. Lest you doubt the awesome power of the drive to procreate, consider what Mr. and Mrs. Argonaut (Argonauta argo) must go ...

The blue-lined octopus is a creature of paradox. It’s a small yet deadly creature with enough paralyzing venom to kill a man. It’s also got a dazzling colorful display but a voracious appetite. To top ...

When it comes to unconventional octopus characteristics, the argonaut’s ‘shell’ is a good place to start. “Because it’s not produced in the same gland, it doesn’t have that evolutionary lineage to it, ...

A juvenile argonaut – part of the octopus family – rides atop a small jellyfish. It might have been seeking protection from predators, or perhaps hoping for an easy meal by sucking food from its ...