Toy deadly beauty from the ocean depths (6 photos + 1 video)

Ah, the sea... Beach holidays are perhaps the most popular in the world. But even this seemingly safe way of relaxation can be fraught with unexpected problems.





And they can easily be provided by a small, cute and very dangerous creature - the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata). This creature, whose size does not exceed 5 centimeters and weighs 100 grams, spends most of its time in shelter. But woe to anyone who, willingly or unwillingly, dares to disturb the inhabitants of the Pacific coral reefs and coastal waters of Australia and Southeast Asia.



The octopus is one of the most poisonous creatures in the world. Its poison, containing tetrodotoxin and a host of other dangerous compounds, instantly paralyzes the respiratory muscles. Death for a healthy adult can occur within a couple of minutes.





Currently, three species of blue-ringed octopus are known to exist. Another one is still in question. The name was given to the animal because of an interesting feature: when the octopus is angry, stressed, or demonstrates aggression, the pattern in the form of rings on the body appears brighter. Thus, the kid seems to say: “Hey, get out of here, you impudent one, I’m not joking!”



If the recommendation remains unanswered, then the water resident moves from warning to action. And it bites, releasing neurotoxins. Tetrodotoxin is found not only in the salivary glands, but also in other parts of the body, for example, in the tentacles.



The way these camouflage geniuses raise offspring is interesting. Female southern blue-ringed octopuses, after reaching sexual maturity, lay more than a hundred eggs and remain nearby, protecting and protecting future offspring. When small octopuses are born, the mother dies of exhaustion, because she does not even leave to look for food. The large blue-ringed octopus takes care of its offspring in a similar way.



To the credit of small dangerous creatures, they rarely attack humans and solely for the purpose of self-defense. If this does happen, then a pressure bandage should be immediately applied to the area above the bite and artificial respiration should be given to the victim until professional medical help arrives.