The Blue-Ringed Octopus is initially born the size of a pea and when fully grown, is the size of a golf ball. But don't let this small octopus fool you. The Blue-Ringed Octopus is considered one of the most venomous animals in the world. For example, one bite from this octopus contains enough poison to kill an adult human within minutes. When startled or threatened, about 50 to 60 blue rings glow extremely bright to warn off predators.
Females initiate the reproduction process in Blue-Ringed Octopuses through specific coloring or positioning. The males then approach the females and the ceremonial process, and eventually reproduction process, begins. The male will then use his hectocotylus arm to insert its sperm into the females' oviduct. The female will then soon begin to lay her eggs, and the brooding process, in which the female carries its eggs in its arms, follows. The female octopus carries its eggs for about 50 days, protecting them before they hatch. As the eggs hatch, the new baby Blue-Ringed Octopuses, or Planktonic Paralarva, will float near the top of the water to join the plankton for about a month. Afterwards, these new baby Blue-Ringed Octopuses will return to the bottom of the water to carry on with the rest of their life. |