國立自然科學博物館

南澳洲的冬天，巨型烏賊群聚在Point Lowly半島長達6公里的海岸線岩石區。這些「海洋變色龍」是世界上最大的烏賊種類，長度可達60公分，重量可達5公斤。驅使牠們朝這片水域遷徙的唯一目的，就是繁衍後代。這幾個月中，公烏賊們會不斷為爭奪和母烏賊交配的機會而打鬥。僧多粥少的畫面層出不窮，每一尾母烏賊的四周都被許多公烏賊給占滿。爭奪到交配權的公烏賊會用特別的交接腕遞送精莢到母烏賊體內，母烏賊體內可能有好幾隻公烏賊的精莢，她選擇最中意的精莢製造受精卵。畢竟，她想選看起來精子最強的雄性來繁衍出後代。母烏賊會將卵附著在岩石塊的下方，經數月孵化。

Every winter in South Australia, giant cuttlefish aggregate along the six-kilometer rocky reef at Point Lowly. These “chameleons of the sea” are the largest cuttlefish in the world, reaching 60cm in length and 5kg in weight. The sole purpose of their migration is to spawn. During the winter months, male giant cuttlefish fight for the opportunity to mate. Each female cuttlefish is surrounded by many males. The male that earns the right to mate passes its spermatophore (sperm-containing packet) to the female. The female receives spermatophores from different males, then chooses the one that will be used to fertilize the eggs. After all, it is the sperm of the strongest male that should be used for reproduction. The female cuttlefish lays eggs under rocks which hatch after a few months.

林維軒-巨型花枝的轟趴1

林維軒-巨型花枝的轟趴2

林維軒-巨型花枝的轟趴3