Mar 10
17
Blue Ringed Octopus
Hapalochlaena maculosa/lunulata
Introduction
There are at least 10 species of this little creature, but there are two that are well known; the lesser blue-ringed octopus (maculosa) and the greater blue-ringed octopus (lunulata).
Where Will I Find Them?
The lesser blue-ringed octopus will only be found in the temperate waters of southern Australia at depths between 0 and 50 metres, while the greater blue-ringed octopus can be found in shallow refs and tide pools from northern Australia to Japan and as far west as Sri Lanka at depths of 0 to 20 metres.
What Do They Look Like?
They are usually a browny beige colour, until you piss em off! When they get alarmed, bright blue rings will appear which is a sign that they are about to give you a small dose of their lethal venom. There is no antidote for this venom, so if you get bitten, the only known way to survive it is ongoing heart massage and artificial respiration until the poison dissipates (usually in 24 hours). The little guy is only the size of a golf ball when it is fully matured and doesn’t have an ink sac, which makes it a popular choice for a home aquarium.
So why should you NOT buy a blue-ringed octopus?
What Do They Eat?
Both the lesser and the greater eat small craps, hermit crabs and shrimp that it catches using one of it’s two types of poison during the day. The other type of poison is saved for the predator.
What is Their Conservation Status?
Not listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
References
www.marinebio.org
