Absurd Planet: WIRED’s Absurd Creatures Series Gets New Life on Netflix

[Host] While most sea life dwells near the surface,

some of my kiddos are homebodies that prefer

to skim the ocean floor about 300 feet deep.

[jaunty music]

This is a giant Pacific octopus.

She has but a single goal in life,

to pop out a solitary healthy litter of babies.

[octopus pants]

Girl, can you breathe in the other direction for a second?

[Octopus] Sorry.

[Host] Yup, these octo-moms never mate again.

Truly a one-life stand.

I know what you're thinking.

Nope, those aren't pinot grigio grapes.

They're octopus eggs.

Once fertilized, she lays as many as 200,000 of them.

Then makes it her life's mission

to ensure no other animal gets anywhere near them.

But here's where it gets ludicrous.

During the month-long process

in which she protects her eggs,

she literally starves herself.

[Octopus] Dressing on the side, please.

[Host] In lieu of eating, she gently wafts currents

over her brood.

[Octopus] Waft, waft, waft, waft, waft, waft, waft.

[Host] So they receive a constant supply

of fresh, oxygenated water.

Now here's the even ludicous-er part.

Mother octopuses have been to known to eat their own arms

to stay alive.

[Octopus] They say kids cost an arm and a leg,

but this is ridiculous.

[octopus grunts]

[octopus sighs in relief]

[Host] Sadly, as her baby octopuses

are just beginning their lives, mom may be losing hers.

Due to exhaustion,

she's no match for predators lurking above.

And where's the father during all this?

Probably betting on football

and asking his college buddies to pull his tentacle.

[farts]