Trivia question for Feb-18-2011

Okay, Carter is feeling a lot better.  He is still sore but he has had a relaxing day.   So much so, he decided to write today’s trivia, so here goes:

These colorful looking octopuses live in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia.  Despite their small size and relatively docile nature, they are currently recognized as one of the world’s most venomous animals.   When the octopus is agitated, the brown patches darken dramatically, and iridescent blue rings or clumps of rings appear and pulsate.

The octopus produces venom that contains toxins.  These toxins blocks sodium channels, causing motor paralysis and respiratory arrest within minutes of exposure, leading to cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen.   Bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus create the toxin.

So here are his questions:   The amount on venom these guys carry along with them is enough to kill how many humans within minutes?  Also, tell us what their main diet consists of.

Good luck 😉

I really want to thank everyone for all the kind comments and prayers for Carter’s speedy recovery.   You guys are the best.

Answer:

Well Natalie, we agree, this guys is a beauty, but from a distance.  This is actually a Blue-Ringed Octopus.  The blue-ringed octopus, despite its small size, carries enough venom to kill 26 adult humans within minutes.  Furthermore, their bites are tiny and often painless, with many victims not realizing they have been envenomated until respiratory depression and paralysis start to set in.

As for their diet, they typically eat small crab and shrimp, but they may also feed on fish if they can catch them.  They layer themselves on top of their prey, paralyze them with venom and use their beaks to tear off pieces.  They then suck out the flesh from the crustacean’s exoskeleton… how appetizing.

Here is more on these gorgeous but deadly sea creatures:  Blue-Ringed Octopus

Thanks for playing along 😉