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Blue Ranged Octopus Of Australia
by eslori Australia
http://www.exploreaustralia.com
Thousands of species of fish and other sea life abound in
the Great Barrier Reef that spreads across the northern
coast of Australia. The reef, composed of sea creatures
from multi-colored fish to the living coral is the
habitation of underwater animals and plants. No wonder,
scuba divers and snorkelers go over the top to marvel at
this amazing environment. In the midst of this breathtaking
beauty, however, the fiercely poisonous blue ringed octopus
hides in the clear waters of the reef.
This octopus is tiny in size and has special glands
producing two types poison that is secreted into its
salvia. On scenting danger, this dark yellow creature turns
into vivid yellow with a blue ringed pattern and bites the
aggressor, secreting venom into the bloodstream of the
victim. This venom is extremely lethal -over 10000 times
the potency of cyanide. The poison attacks the nervous
system and paralysis the victim by stopping the conduction
of nerves. Soon paralysis spreads over the entire body and
eventually the heart and lungs stop working.
The scuba divers and snorkelers face a constant threat from
this small octopus. The blue ringed octopus usually likes
to mind his own business and keeps to himself. He resides
in small holes and cracks and comes out only to hunt in
small tide pools or other places with little water. It is
when it is out for hunting that he comes across human
beings. Those who have been bitten by the blue ringed
octopus may not have even noticed it because it is so
small. They may not even feel the bite. It has a very sharp
mouth like a beak and can bite through a wetsuit.
While diving or snorkeling on Australia~s Great Barrier
Reef, humans may potentially come in contact with this
small octopus. Usually, the blue ringed octopus is
reclusive and lives in crevices or holes, but can venture
into small tide pools or other shallow water to hunt. Most
humans who are bitten by the blue ringed octopus come
across the creature when it is hunting. Due to its small
size, a diver may not notice her or she is disturbing the
octopus and may not even feel its bite. A blue ringed
octopus has a sharp, beak-like mouth and has the capability
to penetrate a wetsuit. The Australian government has taken
steps to educate and warn visitors of the potential dangers
of the blue ringed octopus. Signs mark areas where the
blue ringed octopus is known to inhabit, warning divers and
swimmers to avoid contact with the small creature.
Immediate medical attention is required for a human bitten
by the blue ringed octopus. Since many victims do not feel
the bite or pain when they are bitten by it, realization
seeps in only when nausea sets in. This is followed a by a
loss of sensation and subsequent blindness. This is start
of organ failure. Due to unavailability of anti-venom, the
only mode of saving the victim's life is by working the
poison out of his or her body naturally. For this, the
victim is placed on a ventilator to assist breathing and a
heart massage has to be given for normal heart beating
during the course of paralysis setting in.
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