Poisonous octopus

Poisonous octopus
Posted on 20-05-2023

Poisonous octopus

 

Octopuses are marine invertebrates, specifically cephalopod molluscs, in general terms they have a globose head, two well-developed eyes, and eight tentacles with suckers. They are one of the most intelligent animals, they have managed to develop different mechanisms to mislead their predators, to capture their prey and even to use tools. Within these adaptations they have toxins in their oral cavity to paralyze and consume their prey. Today we will talk about those poisonous octopuses , so don't miss this EcologíaVerde article.

 

 

Blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena sp.)

 

With a size of only 20 cm, it is the most toxic animal in the sea . Its striking yellow or brownish coloration with blue dots warns of mortal danger: in its oral cavity it has salivary glands with a neurotoxin capable of killing a human being in a matter of minutes.

The venom mainly contains a paralytic called tetrodotoxin and there is no known antidote at this time. Despite this, it is not an aggressive animal, reported attacks on humans are due to accidental footsteps or intentional manipulation.

 

Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus)

 

The mimetic octopus has the incredible ability to mimic the shape and behavior of other marine organisms , such as rays, jellyfish, starfish, and eels.

It is distributed throughout Southeast Asia, inhabits near coral reefs, on sandy and shallow bottoms. To move, it drags along the bottom or moves by propulsion. It is a daytime predator, it feeds on crustaceans and small fish that are on the substrate or between holes.

 

Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)

 

It is not only the largest octopus species, with a record length of 9 meters , but it is also the longest-lived , with an average lifespan of four years.

It has a reddish coloration, although the ability to adapt its color and texture to the environment to blend in is a very useful advantage, since due to its size it is difficult for it to move quickly or hide in certain places. Its large size requires a high consumption of food, among its prey are clams, lobsters, fish and even sharks and birds.

 

Pulpo del coco (Amphioctopus marginatus)

It is one of the most intelligent animals in terms of its ability to use tools , the octopus transports coconut shells, clam shells, bottles or other objects that it finds deposited in the sand and uses them as a shelter as a bunker.

Occasionally, it also hides there to feed, using its entire body to grab the prey: it holds it with its sharp beak and suckers, then breaks the prey's body with its arms and with the help of a paralyzing poison and digestive enzymes. to soften it, it finally feeds on the soft parts.

 

Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

The common octopus has a very short life , one or two years, it is distributed in all the oceans, hiding between the holes in the rocks up to a depth of 100 meters.

It feeds mainly on crustaceans, for which it captures the prey with its arms and takes it to its mouth, releasing a poison called cephalotoxin that penetrates through its orifices until it affects the nervous system and paralyzes it in a matter of minutes.

 

Blanket Octopus or Veiled Octopus (Tremoctopus violaceus)

It is an octopus with pelagic habits, its body shape makes it easy for it to swim freely in the sea: it has wide membranes in the form of a veil that cover the first four tentacles, like a parachute, they use the veil to move in the water and also to scare away possible predators. Sometimes they can detach the veil and it continues as if it had a life of its own.

This species of octopus has a marked sexual dimorphism , while the female can measure up to two meters, the male only measures a few centimeters.

 

California two-spotted octopus (Octopus bimaculoides)

It is characterized by having two blue spots on each side of the head , resembling two additional eyes. It is distributed along the coast from California, United States to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, we find it in reefs, macroalgal beds, marshes and sandy bottoms.

It feeds on molluscs and crustaceans and with its tentacles it is capable of removing the shell of its prey, but when this is not possible it helps with a toxin secreted by the salivary glands. The female lays up to 800 eggs and the larvae that are born are directly benthic, they do not have a planktonic phase.

 

Pulpo Dumbo (Grimpoteuthis spp.)

These are species of the genus Grimpoteuthis , they have two fins on each side of the head that resemble ears , which is why they are named after the famous Disney character, Dumbo.

They are also closed octopuses , that is, their tentacles are joined by an extensible veil that allows them to move through medusoid movements, such as pulsations. They are pelagic, they live floating in search of copepods, amphipods and other crustaceans, the veil also allows them to capture larger prey.

These animals are not very showy, since they live in the depths close to 4,000 meters from the surface, although species have been recorded at 7,000 meters.

 

Seven-armed octopus (Haliphron atlanticus)

Another large octopus, it can reach 4 meters in length. It is called like this, since the hectocotyl (arm specialized for reproduction) keeps it stored in a sack that is near the eye , so that it would give the impression of having seven arms instead of eight. At the time of mating, the male frees that arm and introduces it into the female along with the spermatophores.

It is a pelagic species with a wide geographical distribution, it feeds on jellyfish, shrimp and small amphipods, and in turn is consumed by fish, blue sharks and sperm whales.

 

Pacific pygmy octopus (Paroctopus digueti)

Not much is known about the biology and behavior of this species, it is known that it is distributed throughout the waters of Mexico, preferably in shallow sandy and muddy areas and in stagnant waters, since there it finds empty shells where the female spawns the eggs. .

It is small in size, with short arms and protruding eyes , and feeds on shrimp, small mollusks, crabs and fish.

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