Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus
Hapalochlaena lunulata
Residing in the Pacific Ocean anywhere from Japan to Australia, the blue-ringed octopus feeds off of small crabs, shrimp and wounded fish. At the size of a golf ball and having a yellowish/brown coloring, it is easily able to camouflage itself into its surroundings. Although small in size, this octopus has powerful enough venom to kill humans with just one bite. With no known antidote, this makes it the most toxic known sea creature.
Though not considered an aggressive animal, the blue-ringed octopus will attack if provoked, and most attacks on humans occur only when the octopus has been picked out of its pool or stepped on. When provoked, blue rings or lines appear in the octopus, making it beautiful to look at but deadly to touch. The octopus injects neuromuscular paralyzing venom that can kill a human in minutes. If bitten it is essential that rescue breathing take place until a hospital can provide artificial respiration. Artificial respiration should continue for about 24 hours to ensure that all the poison is worked out of the system.
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