Blue Ringed Octopus

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is a major peril around Australia and Southeast Asia. It is the only species of octopus with a bite powerful enough to kill a human. The personality as well as the appearance of the Blue-Ringed Octopus is "stealthy, shy, and the size of a golfball." It is pretty to understand how the Blue-Ringed Octopus got its name, but "the infamous blue rings only really light up as a warning when the animal feels threatened" and when feeding. The Bad News is that "some people are attracted to the pretty colors and pick up the cute little octopus-BIG MISTAKE!."
 

  The Diet of the Blue-Ringed Octopus consists mostly of crabs, shrimps, and prawns. The Wikipedia article also mentions "it may also feed on small fish if it can catch them." The blue rings coming to life are derived from "a collection of elastic ink filled sacks called chromatophores. Located directly under the skin, the sacs stretch when the octopus feels threatened causing the blue pigment to appear. When the threat passes the sacs shrink and the pigment disappears."

A Youtube video mentions "most bites to humans occur when they try to handle the octopus." It also mentions "the Blue-Ringed Octopus' parrot-like beak can easily puncture the skin and the muscle beneath." The video also states "the bite itself is relatively painless, but the venom is 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide and fast acting." It also clarifies "it attacks and freezes the victims muscles, triggering the immediate loss of taste, touch, and sight. Left untreated, paralysis and respiratory failure can follow." A single bite from the Blue-Ringed Octopus can cause death in a matter of minutes "all from a creature the size of a golfball." The video clarifies "there is no known antidote (yet), but heart massage and artificial respiration can move the toxins through the body and prevent long term damage."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNxJwCGJtsA Blue Ringed Octopus

Photo Courtesy of  uwphotographyguide.com