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One of the octopus’ eight limbs is a “hectocotylus,” we learn, which is used to “transfer sperm packets from the male to inside the cavity of the female.”

The hectocotylus, like many other genitals, is made of soft tissues which are unlikely to be fossilised.

In each of these cases the male had the standard third right arm hectocotylus as well as an additional one somewhere else.

Many species mate from afar—to avoid being eaten—with the male reaching his specialized hectocotylus arm into a female’s mantel cavity.

The male still makes use of his hectocotylus arm, but in this case, he does it from an otherwise risky position right near the female’s mouth.