The coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean are fraught with many dangers. For example, the blue-ringed octopus (hapalochlaena) is found here. A meeting with this representative of the underwater world can be fatal even for a person, since there is no antidote for his poison. But the beauty of this creature fascinates and attracts attention. Although for other underwater creatures, it is a warning of danger.
What will biologists tell about?
The blue-ringed octopus is a cephalopod of the octopus family. The first description was made by Guy Robson, around 1929. Three species of these mollusks are reliably known, but the existence of a fourth, unexplored species is assumed:
- Octopus large blue-ringed.
- Southern blue-ringed octopus.
- Octopus blue stripes.
The species whose existence remains in question is called Hapalochlaena nierstraszi in Latin. It was discovered in 1938, but only one individual caught the eye of the researchers, and scientists could not get repeated material for study.
Appearance features
Blue-ringedoctopus is a small creature. On average, it weighs about 100 g with a body length of no more than twenty cm. However, the mollusk is very aggressive and fabulously beautiful. His skin is yellowish brown. About six dozen blue or blue rings with a black rim are drawn on it with a bright ornament. Therefore, the name blue-ringed (blue-ringed) octopus is sometimes found. This proves that the Deep Dweller's rings come in different shades.
When a small clam gets angry, its skin becomes covered with brown spots, and the rings become brighter and more noticeable. This reaction is not unique to octopuses. The blue-ringed octopus, like other types of cephalopods, has special cells that produce a chromatophore. However, other species use this feature for camouflage rather than intimidation.
Building features
All octopuses have a short soft body, the back of which is oval. The mouth, or rather the mouth opening with powerful beak-like jaws, is located at the point of convergence of the tentacles. Deep in the pharynx is a special organ called the radula. It looks like a grater for chopping food. By the way, the clam has 8 tentacles. They are long, articulated with each other by a membrane and equipped with several rows of suckers.
The blue-ringed octopus has a mantle that covers the anus. And he, like other octopuses, has 3 hearts. One supplies blood to the body, and the other two push the blood through the gills.
Octopusblue-ringed has no bones in the body. This allows him to easily change the shape of the body, flattening at the bottom or seeping into small holes. The peculiarity of the structure helps to lie in wait for prey.
And the handsome man is able to regenerate. The clam often loses tentacles in fights and can grow new ones.
Where can you meet the blue-ringed handsome?
As already mentioned, the blue-ringed octopus is a resident of the Pacific Ocean. The greatest probability of meeting a poisonous handsome man exists in the coastal waters of Australia. This species of octopus comes across off the coast of the Japanese islands, in the coastal waters of Indonesia, near the Philippines and New Guinea. And an indeterminate fourth species was caught in the Bay of Bengal.
What does it eat?
The ocean has prepared quite an extensive menu for the cephalopod predator. The blue-ringed octopus preys on shrimp, hermit crabs, small fish and crabs. By hunting habits, these mollusks resemble spiders. Of course, octopuses do not weave nets, they pounce on small living creatures, pierce (bite through) protective shells, and inject poison into the body. The victim is paralyzed, she loses her ability to resist, and the tissues of her body gradually soften. The octopus can only suck the gruel out of the shell.
Features of reproduction
During the mating season, the male is overexcited and constantly ready to mate. Often he loses control over himself and the females have to push the partner away. Mating ends with fertilization, after which the female makes the onlymasonry of her short life, which she will look after for up to six months. All this time, the female remains without food.
The large blue-ringed octopus lays its eggs in a hole, while the southern blue-ringed octopus attaches them to its tentacles. A week and a half after the appearance of the young, when the babies begin to feed on their own, the female octopus dies of exhaustion.
Octopus and man
A small cephalopod with a beautiful pattern on the skin is an insanely dangerous creature. Its venom is capable of killing over 20 people. The nerve-paralytic action of toxins leads to suffocation. Therefore, immediately after a bite, you need to seek help. Doctors say that if a person does not die in the first day after the bite, then he can survive.
Many exotic lovers are wondering if the blue-ringed octopus is compatible with a home aquarium? Experts do not recommend keeping such dangerous animals at home, but, nevertheless, every year several thousand copies enter the markets of America and Europe.
If a person decides to tickle his nerves and put a blue-ringed octopus into the aquarium, then he should be ready for trouble. The clam is smart, and will try to get out of captivity. He will live in captivity for a very short time - a few weeks or months. The predator will not get along with any of the usual inhabitants of the aquarium. And no matter how careful the owner is, there will always be a guest or relative who wants to take a closer look at the handsome man and will be attacked. So it's not worth the risk.
