It can be difficult to determine what is and isn’t harmful when you’re in an unfamiliar environment, but there are several warning indicators you should keep an eye out for, such as teeth, vivid colors, or a bear-like appearance when high on cocaine. Someone was recently caught on camera holding one of the most dangerous animals on the world in their bare hands, and the video, which recently went viral on TikTok, showed how simple it is to underestimate small things. Amazingly, this isn’t even the first time this has happened.
With an average body size of just 12 to 20 cm, the blue-ringed octopus is the epitome of little but mighty (5 to 8 inches). As their name suggests, these tiny squishies have a kaleidoscopic pattern of blue rings all over their bodies, however these rings are generally hidden and only become apparent when the animal is agitated. It flashes its 50 to 60 blue rings and turns bright yellow when under stress, sending out what is typically interpreted as a very audible “back tf up” signal.
It’s a great illustration of an aposematic warning display, which is a strategy utilized by a wide variety of species to warn off would-be predators. The perceived threat might be related to injected venom, consumed poison, bad taste, or difficult-to-swallow spines. A little sneakier kind of defense is Batesian mimicry, in which a predator-resistant prey species imitates an aposematic model to deter predators as well (such as this “tarantula”).
They’re not playing around when it comes to the blue-ringed octopus. Due of the incredibly severe toxin they can envenomate assailants or curious hands with, they truly are among the most hazardous animals on the earth. Tetrodotoxin is a potent neurotoxin that has the potential to be lethal. Since these octopuses aren’t hostile, you should be alright as long as you allow them room and refrain from doing things like taking it out of the water and passing it about. Otherwise…
Marine researcher Erin Spencer said in a piece about blue-ringed octopus for Ocean Conservancy that “its bite is typically painless, so you might not know you’ve been bitten until it’s too late.” First, the venom prevents nerve signals from traveling throughout the body, which makes muscles numb. Other signs and symptoms include nausea, blindness or visual loss, sensory loss, and motor skill loss. In the end, it will paralyze muscles, including those involved in breathing, which will result in respiratory arrest. Even though there is no known cure, patients can still be saved if artificial respiration is initiated right away.
@kaylinmarie21 Called my dad crying 3 hours later in Bali🙃 #blueringoctopus #bali #uluwatu #fyp #imdumb #thanksjesuschrist #ShowerWithMoxie #EnvisionGreatness ♬ Oh No Oh No Oh No No No – Dubskie
It would appear that @kaylinmarie21, whose TikTok bio currently reads, “I once held a deadly octopus,” was incredibly fortunate. She reveals that she was visiting the Uluwatu beach in Bali with some pals when they noticed not one but two blue-ringed octopuses in a follow-up film to the original chronicling her nerve-wracking animal encounter. She reveals that they also picked up the second even though her first video just showed the one being handed around. The video clearly shows the octopuses’ rings, which show how the deadly ticking time bomb was feeling at the moment of the photo opportunity.
The story, which has only been presented in two of its three sections, appears to have a pleasant conclusion. Although this incidence was somewhat accidental, we strongly advise avoiding including wildlife in your TikTok material wherever possible. As of the time of writing, the original video has received 8.7 million views. You can even die from walking toupees.
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