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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
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
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
on the run (by bluewavechris)
avgoustos: 2010 Georgia Aquarium (by Kien Tran)
anoceanactivist: Mimic Octopus (by “Buzz”)
oceansoftheworld: (Source of photo here) a wonderpus (see this previous post).
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