Blue ringed octopus

• Common Name: Blue-ringed octopus • Scientific Name: Hapalochlaena sp. • Distinguishing Features: Small octopus with yellowish skin that flashes bright blue rings when threatened. • Size: 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8 in) • Diet: Small crabs and shrimp • Average Lifespan: 1 to 2 years • Habitat: Shallow warm coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans • Conservation Status: Not evaluated; common within its range • Kingdom: Animalia • Phylum: Mollusca • Class: Cephalopoda • Order: Octopoda • Fun Fact: The blue-ringed octopus is immune to its own venom. Physical Characteristics When not threatened, the blue-ringed octopus' rings may be brown or invisible. Brook Peterson/Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Like other octopuses, the blue-ringed octopus has a sac-like body and eight tentacles. Ordinarily, a blue-ringed octopus is tan-colored and blends in with its surroundings. The iridescent blue rings only appear when the animal is disturbed or threatened. In addition to up to 25 rings, this type of octopus also has a blue line running through its eyes. Venom and Bite Treatment Encounters with this reclusive creature are rare, but people have been bitten after handling or accidentally stepping on a blue-ringed octopus. A bite leaves a tiny mark and may be painless, so it's possible to be unaware of the danger until respiratory distress and paralysis occur. Other symptoms include nausea, blindness, and heart failure, but death (if it occurs) usually results from paralysis of the diaphr...

Blue-Ringed Octopus ( Hapalochlaena maculosa) • Type: Cephalopod • Family: Octopodidae • Habitat: Shallow marine waters and tide pools • Location: Common off the coast of Australia and the western Pacific Ocean • Diet: Crabs, fish, and mollusks • Average lifespan in the wild: 2 years • Size: 5-7.8 in (12.7-20 cm) • Weight: .92 oz (26g) With its fascinating coloring and delicate curling arms, the blue-ringed octopus may be a beautiful creature, but this small cephalopod is also deadly. The blue-ringed octopus appears grey or beige with light brown patches when it is at rest, but when agitated its 50 or 60 bright blue rings appear and pulsate with color, as a warning. Inside the salivary glands of the blue-ringed octopus live colonies of bacteria that produce tetrodotoxin, the potent neurotoxin found in pufferfish and other animals. A bite from a blue-ringed octopus can completely paralyze and kill an adult human in a matter of minutes. There is no known antidote. The octopus itself is not affected at all by the toxin-an evolutionary prerequisite for the symbiotic relationship that has developed between the blue-ringed octopus and the toxin-producing bacteria. The blue-ringed octopus is commonly found in shallow, sandy areas surrounding the coastal reefs of Australia and the western Indio-Pacific. It is most active after dark, and spends most of its day hidden in its nest. Like all octopods, the blue-ringed octopus has no skeleton and is thus very flexible and maneuverable. ...

Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest Email The blue-ringed octopus is a small, venomous cephalopod that is found in the tidal pools and coral reefs of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Despite its small size, this octopus is considered to be one of the most venomous marine animals in the world. Its venom contains a The blue-ringed octopus is named after the distinctive blue rings that appear on its body when it is threatened or provoked. Learn more about this fascinating creature down below! Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Overview The blue-ringed octopus is a venomous cephalopod that is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, particularly around There are four known The blue-ringed octopus is a small octopus, with a typical size of around 12 to 20 centimeters in length. They have eight arms, each lined with two rows of suckers that they use to catch their prey. When threatened, the blue-ringed octopus displays its blue rings, which are actually caused by pigments in the skin. Behavior Blue-ringed octopuses are typically solitary creatures, and are most active at night. They are known for their intelligence, and are able to solve puzzles and navigate mazes in laboratory settings. When hunting, the blue-ringed octopus uses its camouflage abilities to blend in with its surroundings, before launching a surprise attack on its prey. Habitat The blue-ringed octopus is found in shallow waters around They are also found in other parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans...

( The greater blue-ringed octopus ( Hapalochlaena lunulata) is one of four Physical characteristics [ ] The greater blue-ringed octopus, despite its vernacular name, is a small octopus whose size does not exceed 10 centimeters, arms included, for an average weight of 80 grams. Its common name comes from the relatively large size of its blue rings (7 to 8 millimeters in diameter), which are larger than those of other members of the genus and help to distinguish this type of octopus. The head is slightly flattened dorsoventrally (front to back) and finished in a tip. Its eight arms are relatively short. There are variable ring patterns on the mantle of Hapalochlaena lunulata with varied coloration in correlation to their ambient environment, from yellow ocher to light brown or even white-ish (when inactive). The blue rings, which number around 60, are spread throughout the entirety of its skin. The rings are roughly circular in shape and are based on a darker blotch than the background color of the skin. A black line, with thickness varying to increase contrast and visibility, borders the electric blue circles. The blue rings are an Hapalochlaena lunulata Flashing behavior [ ] The octopus usually flashes its iridescent rings as a warning signal, each flash lasting around a third of a second. To test the theory if blue-ringed octopuses could produce their own blue iridescence, scientists bathed the octopus samples in a wide range of chemicals that were known to affect Distrib...

Common name Blue-ringed octopus Scientific name Hapalochlaena maculosa Type Octopus Diet Carnivorous, eating insects and small mammals and reptiles Average lifespan Around two years Size Up to 12cm When it comes to dangerous threats within our ocean, a tiny, ring-patterned creature with eight floppy legs isn’t the first to spring to mind. But the reclusive yet With at least 10 different species of blue-ringed octopus in the world, the two best-known examples are the lesser (southern) blue-ringed octopus ( Hapalochlaena maculosa) and the greater blue-ringed octopus ( Hapalochlaena lunulata), both earning their name from the bright blue rings which appear like a pattern all over their body when they are alarmed. Quite simply, the lesser blue-ringed octopus has fewer rings, and the greater has more. A greater blue-ringed octopus ( Hapalochlaena lunulata). Image credit: shutterstock These tiny cephalopods are grey to beige or even yellow in colour when resting, and have large light brown patches, helping them to camouflage beautifully into their rocky surrounds. With their eight legs also marked with even brown patches, these marks become darker and iridescent blue rings start to pulsate within the maculae when the animal is agitated or distressed. Found only in the temperate waters of southern Australia, the lesser (southern) blue-ringed octopus makes its home in reef flats and tidal pools, from southern Western Australia to eastern Victoria. The greater blue-ringed octopus c...

At first glance, the blue-ringed octopus looks perfectly innocuous. Its psychedelic coloring and pint-sized packaging make it seem more adorable than alarming. But don’t let its cuddly exterior fool you: this tiny octopus can kill you. And quickly. Native to the Pacific Ocean, the blue-ringed octopus can be found in the soft, sandy bottom of shallow tide pools and coral reefs. When not seeking food or a mate, blue-ringed octopuses often hide in crevices, shells or marine debris. If you catch them outside of their cozy hiding spots, it’s easy to see how the animal gets its name: when threatened, bright blue rings appear all over its body as a warning signal to potential predators. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Although all octopuses (as well as cuttlefish and some squid) are venomous, the blue-ringed octopus is in a league of its own. Its venom is 1,000 times more powerful than cyanide, and this golf-ball sized powerhouse packs enough venom to kill 26 humans within minutes. It’s no surprise that it’s recognized as one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean. Blue-ringed octopuses produce a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, a potentially-deadly substance also found in pufferfish. The venom is produced by symbiotic bacteria in the animal’s salivary glands and is more toxic than that of any land mammals. It’s primarily used when hunting: the octopus captures crabs, shrimp and small fish by pecking through its prey’s exoskeleton with its beak and i...