Editing Cephalopod (section)

==== Sexual maturity ====
Cephalopods that are sexually mature and of adult size begin spawning and reproducing. After the transfer of genetic material to the following generation, the adult cephalopods in most species then die.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Sexual maturation in male and female cephalopods can be observed internally by the enlargement of gonads and accessory glands.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite journal|last1=Arkhipkin |first1=A.I.|title=Reproductive system structure, development and function in cephalopods with a new general scale for maturity stages |journal=Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science|date=1992 |volume=12|pages=63–74|doi=10.2960/j.v12.a7 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Mating would be a poor indicator of sexual maturation in females; they can receive sperm when not fully reproductively mature and store them until they are ready to fertilize the eggs.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Males are more aggressive in their pre-mating competition when in the presence of immature females than when competing for a sexually mature female.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mohanty|first1=Sobhi |last2=Ojanguren |first2=Alfredo F. |last3=Fuiman |first3=Lee A. |s2cid=85256742 |date=2014-07-01 |title=Aggressive male mating behavior depends on female maturity in ''Octopus bimaculoides'' |journal=Marine Biology|volume=161|issue=7 |pages=1521–1530 |doi=10.1007/s00227-014-2437-3 |bibcode=2014MarBi.161.1521M |issn=0025-3162}}</ref> Most cephalopod males develop a hectocotylus, an arm tip which is capable of transferring their spermatozoa into the female mantle cavity. Though not all species use a hectocotylus; for example, the adult nautilus releases a [[Spadix (zoology)|spadix]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Saunders |first1=W.B|last2=Spinosa |first2=C. |title=Sexual dimorphism in ''Nautilus'' from Palau |journal=Paleobiology|date=1978 |volume=4|issue=3 |pages=349–358 |doi=10.1017/S0094837300006047 |bibcode=1978Pbio....4..349S |s2cid=85899974}}</ref> Some male squids, mainly deep-water species, have instead evolved a penis longer than their own body length, the longest penis in any free-living animals. It is assumed these males simply attach a [[spermatophore]] anywhere on a female's body.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1093/mollus/eyq019 |doi-access=free |title=Observation of penis elongation in Onykia ingens: Implications for spermatophore transfer in deep-water squid |date=2010|last1=Arkhipkin |first1=A. I. |last2=Laptikhovsky |first2=V. V. |journal=Journal of Molluscan Studies|volume=76|issue=3 |pages=299–300 }}</ref> An indication of sexual maturity of females is the development of brachial photophores to attract mates.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Young |first1=R. B. |s2cid=145374345 |title=A Systematic Approach to Planning Occupational Programs |journal=Community College Review|date=1975 |pages=19–25|doi=10.1177/009155217500300204 |volume=3|issue=2}}</ref>