Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: The Blue-Ringed Octopus

Blue-Ringed Octopus Description

As their name tells us, the Blue-Ringed Octopus
is well noted by the fact that they have a bluish
ring around their body. This ring can also be
black in color. They have skin that is a shade of
yellow with those rings around it. The depth of
the rings can often tell you how old the Octopus
is. Due to the coloring, many people think they
are seeing some type of mold growing in the water
and not an Octopus.

Blue-Ringed Octopus Distribution

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is found in a few areas
around the world. They are mainly present in the
Pacific Ocean. Yet their habitat spans all the
way from Japan to Australia so they have quite a
presence.

Blue-Ringed Octopus Behavior

This is one species of Octopus that is dangerous
due to the venom it releases. They are more
aggressive than other species. While most types
of Octopus will run and hide when danger is
present, this one will bite first and ask
questions later. It is an instinctive nature for
them.

They also don't tolerate other Octopus around
them. Their interactions can sometimes overlap
while looking for food or shelter. With most
species of Octopus they will pass each other
without much recognition at all. For this species
though they will become aggressive with each
other for the dominance in a given location.

Blue-Ringed Octopus Diet and Feeding

The diet for these Octopus covers many different
items so they normally don't have too much of a
problem finding enough food. They hunt at night
just like all other species of Octopus. Some of
the items they commonly consume include hermit
crabs, shrimp, and various type of small fish.

They are very fast predators with the element of
surprise being on their side. They inject venom
into the body of the prey and that will
immobilize them. They use their beaks to break
through the shells and to break the food source
into small pieces that they swallow.

They have been known to eat each other too if
they find that their other sources of food are
hard to find. This is a common problem when these
animals live in captivity. However, many experts
believe it has to do with them living in too
close of proximity to others instead of for the
need to feed.

Blue-Ringed Octopus Reproduction

This are isolated animals in the wild, with the
one exception being during mating season. The
male and female will engage in mating several
times over the course of a couple of days. The
males will want to linger and continue to mate so
the females have to become very aggressive in
order to break away.

The females will lay approximately 50 eggs at a
time close to the onset of spring. The eggs won't
be released to the water though but remain in the
safety of one of her arms where they can be warm
and protected. She won't eat during this period
of time so once they hatch she will die.

Blue-Ringed Octopus Human interaction

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is the only species
identified as creating a venom that is deadly
enough to kill humans. That makes them one type
of Octopus that people want to stay very far away
from. While these animals aren't aggressive and
don't go after humans, they will attack in order
to defend themselves. They may mistake humans as
a food source and bite them by accident too.

They are considered to be one of the most
venomous creatures in the world. Some people have
been bitten by them after accidentally stepping
on them in the water. The fact that these Octopus
do blend in so well to their surrounding can make
that an easy scenario to fall into.


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For more Facts and Information about Octopuses
and species like the blue-ringed octopus or the
Caribbean reef octopus visit
http://www.octopusworlds.com


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