Greater blue-ringed octopus: Difference between revisions
→Distribution and habitat: see source page 174 |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Speciesbox |
{{Speciesbox |
||
| image = Hapalochlaena lunulata2.JPG |
| image = Hapalochlaena lunulata2.JPG |
||
| image_caption = '' |
| image_caption = ''Hapalochlaenae lunulata'' |
||
| genus = Hapalochlaena |
| genus = Hapalochlaena |
||
| parent_authority = [[Guy Coburn Robson|Robson]], 1929 |
| parent_authority = [[Guy Coburn Robson|Robson]], 1929 |
||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
==Description== |
==Description== |
||
The greater blue-ringed octopus is, despite its vernacular name, a small octopus whose size does not exceed 10 centimeters, arms included, for an average weight of 80 grams.<ref name="lizard island">{{Cite journal |last=Roper |first=Clyde F.E. |last2=Hochberg |first2=F.G. |date=1988 |title=Behavior and systematics of cephalopods from Lizard Island, Australia, based on color and body patterns |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/efb8/67473e707923b70d7a96e378a78f1d15ff9a.pdf |journal=Malacologia |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=153–193 |via=Semantic Scholar}}</ref> |
The greater blue-ringed octopus is, despite its vernacular name, a small octopus whose size does not exceed 10 centimeters, arms included, for an average weight of 80 grams.<ref name="lizard island">{{Cite journal |last=Roper |first=Clyde F.E. |last2=Hochberg |first2=F.G. |date=1988 |title=Behavior and systematics of cephalopods from Lizard Island, Australia, based on color and body patterns |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/efb8/67473e707923b70d7a96e378a78f1d15ff9a.pdf |journal=Malacologia |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=153–193 |via=Semantic Scholar}}</ref> |
||
Its common name comes from the relatively |
Its common name comes from the relatively small size of its blue rings (8 to 9 centimeters in diameter), which are larger than those of other members of the genus and help to distinguish this type of octopus.<ref name="lizard island"/> |
||
The head is slightly flattened dorsoventrally and finished in a tip. Its eight arms are short. |
The head is slightly flattened dorsoventrally and finished in a tip. Its eight arms are short. |
||
[[File:Variable ring patterns on mantles of the blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena lunulata.png|thumb|left|500px|Variable ring patterns on mantles of ''Hapalochlaena lunulata''<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Huffard | first1 = CL | last2 = Caldwell | first2 = RL | last3 = DeLoach | first3 = N | last4 = Gentry | first4 = DW | last5 = Humann | first5 = P | last6 = MacDonald | first6 = B. | last7 = Moore | first7 = B. | last8 = Ross | first8 = R. | last9 = Uno | first9 = T. | last10 = Wong | first10 = S. | year = 2008 | title = Individually Unique Body Color Patterns in Octopus (''Wunderpus photogenicus'') Allow for Photoidentification | journal = PLoS ONE | volume = 3 | issue = 11| page = e3732 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0003732 | pmid=19009019 | pmc=2579581}}</ref>]] |
[[File:Variable ring patterns on mantles of the blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena lunulata.png|thumb|left|500px|Variable ring patterns on mantles of ''Hapalochlaena lunulata''<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Huffard | first1 = CL | last2 = Caldwell | first2 = RL | last3 = DeLoach | first3 = N | last4 = Gentry | first4 = DW | last5 = Humann | first5 = P | last6 = MacDonald | first6 = B. | last7 = Moore | first7 = B. | last8 = Ross | first8 = R. | last9 = Uno | first9 = T. | last10 = Wong | first10 = S. | year = 2008 | title = Individually Unique Body Color Patterns in Octopus (''Wunderpus photogenicus'') Allow for Photoidentification | journal = PLoS ONE | volume = 3 | issue = 11| page = e3732 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0003732 | pmid=19009019 | pmc=2579581}}</ref>]] |
||
Revision as of 05:23, 5 January 2019
| Greater blue-ringed octopus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hapalochlaenae lunulata | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Octopodidae |
| Genus: | Hapalochlaena Robson, 1929 |
| Species: | H. lunulata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hapalochlaena lunulata | |
The greater blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) is one of four species of highly venomous blue-ringed octopuses belonging to the family Octopodidae.
Description
The greater blue-ringed octopus is, despite its vernacular name, a small octopus whose size does not exceed 10 centimeters, arms included, for an average weight of 80 grams.[1] Its common name comes from the relatively small size of its blue rings (8 to 9 centimeters in diameter), which are larger than those of other members of the genus and help to distinguish this type of octopus.[1] The head is slightly flattened dorsoventrally and finished in a tip. Its eight arms are short.
The coloration of this octopus varies with the circumstances and the ambient environment, from yellow ocher to light brown through whitish (when inactive). The blue rings, which number around 60, are spread throughout the entire animal's coat.[3] The rings are roughly circular and are based on a darker blotch than the background color of the coat. A black line, with thickness varying to increase contrast and visibility, borders the electric blue circles. The blue rings are an aposematic adornment to clearly show to all potential predators that the octopus is highly venomous. The octopus also has characteristic blue lines running through its eyes.
Distribution and habitat
The greater blue-ringed octopus is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from Sri Lanka to the Philippines and from Australia to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.[1]: 174 The animal likes shallow waters with mixed seabed (such as rubble, reefs and sandy areas). As is true for all octopuses, it lives in a burrow and only comes out to search for food or a mate. The entrance of the shelter is littered with remains from meals (empty shells and crab shell and legs) and is easily identifiable.[4]
Biology
The greater blue-ringed octopus is a benthic animal that has a solitary way of life. The breeding season varies according to geographical area. The female lays 60 to 100 eggs, which are kept under the female's arms during the incubation period, which lasts about a month.[1] Newborns have a brief planktonic development passage before settling on the seabed.[1]
This small octopus is an active carnivore that feeds mainly on crustaceans, bivalve shells and occasionally small fish.[1]
Potential danger
The greater blue-ringed octopus is capable of inflicting a deadly bite to its predators that can even be fatal to humans. Octopuses from genus Hapalochlaena have two kinds of venom glands that impregnate their saliva. One is used to immobilize the hunted crustaceans before eating them. The second, tetrodotoxin, is used for defense and is found in several other sea creatures such as pufferfish. This toxin is a powerful neurotoxin with a strong paralyzing power. The bite is painless to humans but effects appear any time between 15-30 minutes and up to four hours, though the rate of onset of symptoms varies by individual, and children are more sensitive to the toxins.[5]
The first phase of the poisoning is characterized by facial and extremity paresthesia, and the victim feels tingling and/or numbness on the face, tongue, lips and other body extremities. The victim may also suffer excessive sweating, severe headaches coupled with dizziness, speech problems, hypersalivation, moderate emesis, movement disorders, a feeling of weakness, cyanosis to extremities and lips and petechial hemorrhages on the body.[6]
The second phase of poisoning usually occurs after eight hours and includes hypotension and generalized spastic muscle paralysis. Death may occur between 20 minutes and 24 hours after the onset of symptoms, usually resulting from respiratory paralysis. Throughout each of the phases of poisoning, the state of consciousness of the victim is unaffected.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Roper, Clyde F.E.; Hochberg, F.G. (1988). "Behavior and systematics of cephalopods from Lizard Island, Australia, based on color and body patterns" (PDF). Malacologia. 29 (1): 153–193 – via Semantic Scholar.
- ^ Huffard, CL; Caldwell, RL; DeLoach, N; Gentry, DW; Humann, P; MacDonald, B.; Moore, B.; Ross, R.; Uno, T.; Wong, S. (2008). "Individually Unique Body Color Patterns in Octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus) Allow for Photoidentification". PLoS ONE. 3 (11): e3732. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003732. PMC 2579581. PMID 19009019.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Mäthger,Bell, Kuzirian, Allen & Hanlon, "How does the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) flash its blue rings? ", 2012, The Journal of Experimental Biology
- ^ http://www.eol.org/pages/491995/details
- ^ http://www.scuba-doc.com/hzrdmrnlf.html
- ^ Skye King and Azadeh Fotouhie, "Tetrodotoxin and Maculotoxin.", University of Mexico, 2003.
- ^ http://poisonpedia.e-monsite.com/pages/a-z/t/tetrodotoxine.html
External links
- "CephBase: Greater blue-ringed octopus". Archived from the original on 2005-08-17.
- Animal Diversity Web