The+Greater+Blue-Ringed+Octopus




 * Common Names:** Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus[[image:http://www.divernet.com/siteimage/scale/800/600/145898.png width="281" height="360" align="right"]]
 * Scientific Name:** //Hapalochlaena lunulata//
 * Phyla:** Mollusca
 * Class:** Cephalopoda
 * Size:** They are slightly smaller than //Hapalochlaena maculosa// with a body <5 cm long and arms to 7 cm across the tentacles from tip to tip.
 * Description of Habitat:** Found in shallow reefs and tide pools from northern Australia to Japan, including Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Philippines, and Indonesia and as far west as Sri Lanka at depths ranging from 0-20 m.
 * Living Requirements:** Feeds on small crabs, hermit crabs, and shrimp that it hunts during the day.
 * Life Cycle of Animal:** They have a short life-span of 2 years.
 * Male and Female Differences:** Females tend to be larger. Males die after they mate and the females die after her eggs has hatched.
 * Interesting Facts:**
 * The name "greater blue-ringed" refers to the size of the rings, not the body size.
 * Two types of poison secreted by two separate poison glands are used against prey and predators. One of the poisons is used for hunting crab, the other, which is extremely toxic, is used as self defense against predators. The poisons are secreted into the blue-ringed octopus's saliva, but the mechanism for poisoning its victim is not well understood. Either the poison is expelled in the saliva into the water or the octopus bites its prey or predator. Once the prey is dead, the octopus begins consuming it with its powerful beak-like mouth.
 * This species lacks an ink sac and has therefore become a common addition to the marine aquarium. Toxicologists strongly disagree with this practice because of the potential danger to people who are unaware of the potentially fatal venom.




 * Human Impact:** The blue-ringed octopus, //Hapalochlaena maculosa// and //Hapalochlaena lunulata//, displays its blue rings as a warning when threatened. They are not aggressive and tend to avoid confrontation by flattening the body and blending into its surroundings. Humans have only been injured when a blue-ringed octopus is provoked or stepped on. When the threat is unavoidable, the blue-ringed octopus ejects a neuromuscular venom that contains maculotoxin and tetrodotoxin which cause paralysis. This poison is fatal and more potent than any poison found in land animals. Human victims can be saved if artificial respiration begins quickly; however there is no known antidote and the only treatment is ongoing heart massage and artificial respiration until the poison dissipates (usually in 24 hours with no ill-effects).

//**Work Cited**//
 * Zookeeper: James K. Kanthachack**
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 * http://lhsvirtualzoo.wikispaces.com/Blue+Ring+Octopus
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