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35. Feeling Blue
The blue-ring octopus is only about eight inches
with its tentacles extended. It prefers shallow water
Australia and often lives under piers. It avoids
. But if it must defend itself, this creature
deliver a bite that is fatal. The toxin
the bite can paralyze most of the muscles
a human. A human might die in less
five minutes.
The blue-ring octopus gets its name
bright blue circles that can appear all over
body and tentacles. These rings are nearly invisible
the animal is at rest. The rings glow
the octopus is alarmed. The glowing blue color
others to stay away.
The blue-ring octopus likes
sneak up on its favorite food—crabs. The crabs
sometimes as big as the octopus. But the
is often able to “hug” the crab tightly
its eight tentacles. As soon as the octopus
a good grip, it injects its toxin into
crab’s body. Sometimes it will inject its toxin
into the crab’s eye. The toxin kills the
quickly.
Like some other males in the animal
, the male blue-ring octopus dies shortly after mating.
female guards the eggs for about two months
they hatch. After that, she waits until another
comes along.
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