Blue-ringed octopus.Photo:Getty
Getty
Jacob Eggington, 18, was looking for seashells for his young niece at popular Shoalwater Beach, a short drive from Perth,7Newsreports.
He found one shell and pocketed it for his niece. However, when Jacob took the shell out of his pocket to give to her,a blue-ringed octopusemerged and bit him — seconds before the toddler held the shell in her own hands.
“That’s probably one of the more traumatic thoughts to think — what could have happened,” Joshua continued. “He did get bit, but he also probably saved one of his nieces’ or nephews' lives.”
Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.Alamy
Alamy
As theAustralian Institute of Marine Sciencepoints out, the blue-ringed octopus is small — just four to six centimeters long. However, its size belies “a nasty surprise for any potential prey or predators.”
When agitated, the octopus produces the toxin tetrodotoxin, whichthe CDCsays is an “extremely potent poison.”
The toxin paralyzes the victim, but as the Australian Institute of Marine Science explains, “the paralysis that overcomes the victim is only to their voluntary muscles; they remain fully conscious. Death usually occurs as a result of lack of oxygen" (presumably from drowning).
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The incident comes as Australia begins its summer season.
Marine scientist Jennifer Verduin tells 7News that the sea creature is so common, she won’t enter the surf without water shoes on.
“They’re very good at hiding so we wouldn’t normally see them that often. But they are there,” she said. As the Australian Institute of Marine Science points outs, the blue-ringed octopus “tend to hide in crevices” — like shells.
“Collecting shells, although it’s something that we might think is really fun, maybe proceed with a lot of caution,” Joshua told 7News.
source: people.com
