Octopus - The Eight-Legged Mollusk that Swims!

Although most octopi are gentle and shy, there is at least one that is extremely dangerous. It's not that big, but the blue-ringed octopus has a bite that can deliver a nasty venom that can kill a human--there is no known antidote. A typical blue-ringed octopus can carry enough poison to kill 26 adult humans within minutes.

The venom contains tetrodotoxin (a nerve poison also found in pufferfish and cone shells), in addition to hyaluronidase, tyramine, histamine, tryptamine, octopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, taurine, acetylcholine, and dopamine. The tetrodotoxin, which is created by bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus, blocks the body's sodium channels, and causes motor paralysis and respiratory arrest--with the resulting cardiac arrest.

The only treatment for a victim of blue-ring octopus bite is immediate and full-time respiratory support cardio-pulmonary resuscitation--CPR)--even if the victim does not seem to be responding. This type of poisoning results in the victim being fully aware of their surroundings but, because of paralysis, unable to breathe. The victims have no way to respond or signal for help or indicate distress--so, continual respiration should be administered until further medical assistance and a respirator can be used to give further continual assistance until the paralysis subsides.

If the victim can survive the first 24 hours, a recovery to eventual normality is possible.