Scientists have found that male blue-lined octopuses inject venom and paralyse females during sex to avoid being killed and cannibalised by their much larger partners. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

"Mating ended when the females regained control of their arms and pushed the males off," the researchers noted.

Blue-lined octopuses are from a group of venomous octopuses that look plain in color until they are threatened, at which time their bodies flare with electric blue lines to ward off potential threats,