The Blue Ringed Octopus
By Bianca Arcilla
I am learning to inform my audience through an information report
Imagine yourself snorkeling in clear blue ocean in the Philippines on a public holiday. Suddenly you look at the reefs there and pick up a tiny octopus that could fit in the palm of your hand. Soon, the creature bites you and your dreamy holiday turns into a horrifying nightmare, because you have been bitten by the Blue-Ringed Octopus, one of the https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_ikonlf9Z1HsUwgODkWomn12L5GFmxrTQLn9v5EjStBOZatmqjqLBqMY2Y5mUW41VSe0jPpgNSMzrwcUgerKoCVwrDdBq9Aivd7uAjfNypU9Klc80vqn8JaCrLwIiW34C7PcmYSys_k/s1600/blue-ringed_octopus.jpg
world’s most dangerous marine animals. Blue-Ringed Octopuses are small octopuses that live under rocks on reefs in oceans near pacific islands such as Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and Philippines. They also are easily identified by their blackish, yellowish skin and the blue rings all over their body. But beware, if these rings turn bright blue, you will get bitten.
Consequences of being bitten by a Blue-Ringed Octopus
Blue-Ringed Octopuses are one of the world’s deadliest marine animals because of the effects that would happen if you got bitten by one. If you were bitten by these, you would find that your mouth and tongue would be numb, your vision would be blurry, you would have difficulty in speaking and in swallowing. These effects happen because whenever you get bitten by the Blue-Ringed Octopus, you receive some toxins called Tetrodotoxin and Histamine. These toxins are produced by the bacteria in the glands of the octopus and the octopus releases it’s venom on it’s prey too.
Diet
Blue-Ringed Octopuses have a diet of small crabs, shrimp and maybe even fish. These octopuses get their prey by pouncing on them and then pulling them towards their mouth. But female octopuses can’t eat while they are reproducing.
Reproducing\Life Cycle
Just like humans and other animals, Blue-Ringed Octopuses need to reproduce more Blue-Ringed Octopuses so that their species won’t become extinct. When Blue-Ringed Octopuses reproduce, first the male caresses the female’s mantle with his modified tentacle and next, the male places the tentacle in the female’s mantle cavity and then puts in the sperm packet. Then the spermatophores are released but soon, the male dies. Then the female lays 50-100 eggs and guards the eggs under her “skirt”. Last of all, the eggs then hatch and female Blue-Ringed Octopus dies. Also, when Blue-Ringed Octopuses are babies, they are the size of a pea, when they are an adult, they are the size of a golf ball. Later on, the life cycle of the Blue-Ringed Octopus will start again…… After the babies grow up : )
In conclusion, Blue-Ringed Octopuses are one of the world’s most dangerous marine animals because of the serious effect of being bitten by one. So you need to take care when you are snorkeling and stay away from them. And do remember, whenever their rings turn bright blue, they are ready.. to bite YOU!
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