The Greater Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) is one of three (or perhaps four) species of blue-ringed octopuses. Unlike its southern brethren, the Blue-lined and Southern Blue-ringed octopuses that are found only in Australian waters, the range of the Greater Blue-ringed Octopus spans the tropical western Pacific Ocean. Greater Blue-ringed Octopuses can weigh between 10 and 100 grams, though the average is 55 g.
Prey The Greater Blue-ringed Octopus mostly eats crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. It also eats reef fish that stray too close. It injects them with a powerful neurotoxin that easily paralyzes them. Then the octopus eats its prey.
Toxicity Their venom, which includes a neurotoxin known as tetrodotoxin, is produced by bacteria in the salivary glands.
Variable ring patterns on mantles of Hapalochlaena lunulata
Dasyurus Administrator Forum Member No. 1 member is offline
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Re: Blue-ringed Octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa « Reply #4 on Feb 11, 2008, 12:46pm »
Blue-ringed octopus numbers increasing
January 30, 2008 07:20am Article from: Font size: + -
THEY are one of the most dangerous animals on earth - and they're swimming at the beach with you.
Meet the deadly blue-ringed octopus, found lurking in increasing numbers around Sydney beaches in recent weeks.
Already one person has been taken to hospital with a bite from the creature, with experts fearing the worst is still to come - with millions of the deadly octopuses living along the NSW coast.
"It's only a matter of time before someone dies," marine biologist David Baxter said yesterday.
"It's the second most poisonous sea creature after the box jellyfish, but we co-exist with it."
Despite their small size and colours, a bite from a blue-ringed octopus quickly paralyses a person to a point where they fall unconscious and can't breathe.
Victims can only be saved with immediate medical treatment that involves resuscitation and putting pressure on the wound.
Manly Hospital confirmed it had recently treated an adult bitten by a blue-ringed on Shelley Beach -- with two more serious stings, possibly blue-ringed bites, treated last weekend.
Dr Baxter called for councils to erect warning signs at beaches so that children and tourists would be more aware of the deadly danger.
Even beachgoers who don't pick up the animal are in danger.
The animal, which only grows to the size of a golf ball, can easily climb into a small shell - or even a swimmer's pocket - without being spotted.
There are literally millions of blue-ringed octopus along the coast - including many in the sand and rockpools of Sydney beaches.
"We've become complacent," Dr Baxter said. "Little kids are picking up spoonfuls of shells. One of the blue-rings is the size of your little finger but there's enough poison to kill a little kid.
"There's no cure for the bite. You have to be resuscitated or taken to hospital reasonably quickly to survive."
Two centuries ago, grizzly bears thrived across the lower 48 states, with an estimated population between 50,000 to 100,000. Today, due to persecution, trophy-hunting, and habitat-destruction, the grizzly occupies less than 2% of its historical range.
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Re: Blue-ringed Octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa « Reply #7 on Feb 11, 2008, 1:12pm »
Quote:
Quote:
Thats why no matter how cool the animal looks dont pick it up they are not good in captivity because of their poisonus bite.
poisonous salivah .
No its the bite then the posion is put into the body.
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