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There are up to ten subspecies of Blue Ringed Octopus (genus Hapalochlaena), which are the most deadly of all cephalopods. It’s ironic, since they’re typically very small in size and don’t appear rather threatening. Appearances can be extremely deceiving, considering the fact that these octopuses have enough venom to kill up to 26 adult humans. With no anti-venom available, you need a strong will to live in order to survive. Their venom is contained within their saliva, produced by a few glands approximately the same size as their brains. Although there are various components to make up this deadly venom, there are two essential components. One is relatively harmless to humans but fatal to crabs. The other one is tetrodotoxin, which is thought to be a defense against predators. This is the same component that makes pufferfish deadly for humans to eat. It’s a neuromuscular paralyzing venom, and when a blue ringed octopus bites, the venom enters the wound through saliva rather than being injected. If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by one of these deadly cephalopods, put pressure on the wound and artificial respiration is highly recommended. Medical ventilators are your best bet for any fighting chance of survival, although victims typically don’t notice bites until after paralysis sets in.  Photo credit: Okinawa Nature Photography
oceansoftheworld: (Source) The giant squid (Architeuthis sp.) is a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae, represented by as many as eight species. The giant squid remains largely a mystery to scientists despite being the biggest invertebrate on Earth. The largest of these elusive giants ever found measured 59 feet (18 meters) in length and weighed nearly a ton (900 kilograms). However, their inhospitable deep-sea habitat has made them uniquely difficult to study, and almost everything scientists know about them is from carcasses that have washed up on beaches or been hauled in by fishermen. Lately, however, the fortunes of scientists studying these elusive creatures have begun to turn. In 2004 researchers in Japan took the first images ever of a live giant squid. And in late 2006, scientists with Japan’s National Science Museum caught and brought to the surface a live 24-foot (7-meter) female giant squid. Giant squid, along with their cousin, the colossal squid (see this post), have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom, measuring some 10 inches (25 centimeters) in diameter. These massive organs allow them to detect objects in the lightless depths where most other animals would see nothing. Like other squid species, they have eight arms and two longer feeding tentacles that help them bring food to their beak-like mouths. Their diet likely consists of fish, shrimp, and other squid, and some suggest they might even attack and eat small whales. They maneuver their massive bodies with fins that seem diminutive for their size. They use their funnel as a propulsion system, drawing water into the mantle, or main part of the body, and forcing it out the back. Scientists don’t know enough about these beasts to say for sure what their range is, but giant squid carcasses have been found in all of the world’s oceans.
Something I’ve always been fascinated by? An octopus’s use of tools. Once thought to be a defining skill unique to humans, it’s slowly been unraveled that we aren’t all that special.. Many species of animals, octopus included, have been discovered using tools. Most animal lovers and cephalopod enthusiasts alike have seen the video of the octopus ‘stilt walking’ inside of a coconut shell..But they also use shells and other various things found on the sea floor for shelter and protection. What may seem like a simple action to us is actually a lot bigger than you’d expect. For an octopus to be using these materials as armor is a huge leap from what was a ‘simpler’ minded species to a very evolved and intellectual species.  Scientists are shocked to see this species that is closer related to mollusks than people using such cognitive behaviors..But c’mon, humans should give credit to these invertebrates for being as bright as they are! Photo credit: Alex Varani
The Glass Squid, a member of the family Cranchiidae, is a truly unique and beautiful type of cephalopod. Also known as the cranch squid, their mantle length varies from 10 cm (3.9 in) all the way up to 3 m (9.8 ft), in the case of the exceptional Colossal Squid. These cephalopods hang out at the surface of the water when young, and like most squid, work their way to deeper waters, some species living up to 2 km below sea level! Their name comes from the very obvious transparent body they have, yet only one organ is visible in the body. The digestive gland, which works like a liver, is clearly seen but actually helps to reduce a squid’s silhouette. This along with light organs helps to minimize their appearance in the waters.  Photo Credit: Trog1
Squid Hunting 2 by PacificKlaus on Flickr.
Squiggly “Hi” by MerMate on Flickr.
Let’s talk octopus reproduction! That’s right, we’re learning how this cute little Cephalopod was made.  Male octopuses have a special arm, called a hectocotcylus, to insert spermatophroes (packets of sperm) into the female’s mantle cavity. On most octopus, it’s normally the third right arm. Males typically die within a few months of mating. In some species, females are capable of keeping the sperm alive inside of her for weeks until her eggs mature. After fertilization, the female will lay around 200,000 eggs (but may vary dramatically) and hangs these eggs in strings from the ceiling of her lair, or individually attatches them to substrate, once again depending on the species. She will then take a one month break from hunting in order to guard her eggs from predators, and blow currents of water over her eggs for oxygen. She may even go so far as to ingesting her own arms for sustenance. By the times the eggs hatch, the mother is too weak to fend for herself and will often be attacked by animals, unable to fight back. The baby octopuses will drift in clouds of plankton, feeding on copepods, larval crabs, and larval starfish until they can descend to the ocean bottom, and the cycle will repeat. Photo credit: Michael Bok
The Reaper Cuttlefish (Sepia mestus), is a species of cuttlefish native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean, specifically Escape Reef off Queensland to Murrays Beach off Jervis Bay. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, or to put it simply, has different traits and appearances depending on the gender. Females grow to a mantle size of 124 millimeters, while males do not exceed 77 millimeters.  Photo credits: Rowland Cain
anoceanactivist: Mimic Octopus (by “Buzz”)
oceansoftheworld: (Source of photo here) a wonderpus (see this previous post).
anoceanactivist: Caribbean Reef Squid (by ltoosilly)
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