Male octopuses paralyse partners with venom during sex to avoid being eaten, scientists find - Octopus uses symbiotic bacteria to sequester the venom

Some male octopuses tend to get eaten by their sexual partners, but male blue-lined octopuses avoid this fate with help from one of nature’s most potent venoms

Male blue-lined octopi (Hapalochlaena fasciata) have been found to use venom on their sexual partners, as well as for the usual reasons of defense against predators and subduing prey. Killing the females would be counterproductive,