Australia’s Dangerous Sea’s: The Blue Ringed Octopus

More reasons to stick to the swimming pool.

So far we have looked at three killer sea creatures namely: cone snails, stonefish and box jellyfish. Without a doubt, stonefish was butt-ugly! This next killer has to be the prettiest of the bunch.

Time to meet the Blue Ringed Octopus.

Living in Brisbane as I do, it’s refreshing to note that this particular killer doesn’t swim around our shores as it is only found on the southern coast of Australia. Apart from one small fact. The video has got it wrong!

This octopus is found throughout the Indo-West-Pacific; from the Philippines through Singapore and across to India and……… throughout the whole of Australia including New Zealand.

The venom of the blue ringed octopus may be lethal but the chances of being bitten by one are very rare. The only recorded incidents of fatalities occurred when the octopus was picked up and lifted out of the water.

BobinOz instant tip: don’t pick up a blue ringed octopus.

But apparently, because they look pretty, some people do.

BobinOz instant tip number 2: don’t pick up the yellow octopus with dark brown rings. Because that’s what the blue ringed octopus looks like before it gets angry.

As mentioned in the video there have only been three fatalities in the last century. I heard that one of those was in Singapore and the other two were here in Australia. A third source suggested there may have been four deaths attributed to the blue ringed octopus. But whichever way you look at it, you really do have more chance of being struck by lightning than meeting your maker following an encounter with this eight footed mollusc.

But that doesn’t mean you should not be vigilant, especially with young ones on the beach. These golf ball sized creatures hide in rocks and inside disused shells…. that would be the kind of rocks and shells my daughter is constantly picking up looking for prettier rocks and shells.

So if you do have young children and you are coming over to Australia to live, or perhaps you’re already living here, get them to check out these videos on BobinOz. Turn the sound down (to avoid nightmares) and just explain what not to touch.

Sorted!