BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS

Josef Synek 18.1.2010

INTRODUCTIONThe blue-ringed octopus is found in tidal pools and mud

flats all around Australia

The blue-ringed octopus has a life span of approximately 2 years.

Each individual blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes.

The beak of a blue-ringed octopus can penetrate a wet-suit.

SIZE AND APPEARANCE2-20 centimetres 10-100 grams

Blue-ringed octopus is usuallyyellow to pale brown in color when resting,

but when it gets angry or feels scared blue rings appear on its body and tentacles.

VENOM SYMPTOMSTetrodotoxin blocks sodium channels, causing motor paralysis and respiratory arrest within minutes of exposure, leading to cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen.

Onset of nausea. Hazy Vision. ( Within seconds you are blind.) Loss of sense of touch, speech and the ability to

swallow. Within 3 minutes, paralysis sets in and your body goes

into respiratory arrest.The poison gradually wears off after 24 hrsThere is no antidote

TETRADOTOXINThe toxin is created by bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus.

FIRST AIDFirst aid treatment is pressure on the wound and rescue breathing

(EAR) once theparalysis has disabled the victim's respiratory muscles, which often

occurs within inutes of being bitten. Tetrodotoxin causes severe and often total body

paralysis; the victim remains conscious and alert in a manner similar to curare or pancuronium bromide. This effect, however, is temporary and will fade

over a period of hours as the tetrodotoxin is metabolized and excreted by the

body. It is thus essential that rescue breathing be continued without pause until

the paralysis subsides and the victim regains the ability to breathe on their

own.

Thank youand

attention…