performing octopus-related

[Doug Millison]

One of Britain's most famous octopuses, Olive, has given birth to 10,000
babies in Dorset.

It is the first time the species, which is usually found off the coast of
Spain, has been bred in captivity in the UK.

Sadly Olive, who has appeared on television doing tricks, is no longer alive
as all females die after giving birth.

The Western Daily Press says the common octopuses at the Sea Life Park in
Weymouth are three weeks old and measure just two millimetres.

Their bodies can grow to the size of a football, with tentacles over a metre
long.

Marine biologist Nina Godsell, from the Sea Life Park, said: "Usually the
offspring die after a couple of days but we hope that at least some of these
will grow to adulthood - we do have over 10,000 of them."

She said Olive had appeared on the television programme Brilliant Creatures,
as well as a number of other shows.


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