Oblivious guy plays with a blue-ringed octopus, it’s toxin is about 1,000 times deadlier than cyanide
  • 127 points Bognosticator

    I think if it didn't change colour, it wasn't in a mood to bite. So the guy probably didn't die three minutes after the video ended.

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    25 points BlueRocketMouse

    It did change colors though... It's easiest to see on the tentacles when he lifts it into the sunlight.

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    14 points Bognosticator

    I thought its threat display is to change from that dull blue to the really vibrant blue in the picture on the right.

    But I'm also not an expert.

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    5 points StirCrazyCatLady

    The colour change comes from muscular contractions iirc (going back to primary and high school bio here - we learn about all the deadlies early down under) so they can adjust how bright the rings are depending on how pissed off they get

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  • 87 points nsgiad

    So not only is there no anti venom, but the bite is typically painless.

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    82 points V-DaySniper

    The only thing they can do is rush you to the hospital and put you on life support, including a ventilator, to try and keep you alive until the venom breaks down and goes away.

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    14 points anon_y_mousey

    Or just die?

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    13 points V-DaySniper

    Pretty much. The venom causes full respiratory paralysis so you just stop breathing, and your body shuts down.

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    0 points anon_y_mousey

    Yeah if you don't make it in time

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    6 points V-DaySniper

    Ya, that's what I said.

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    1 points CornerRealistic4170

    What about dying? Also painless?

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    2 points StirCrazyCatLady

    Probably a bit hard to ask the people who are paralysed by it how bad it hurts, but I think they're usually conscious unless/until sedated

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    1 points BipedalHorseArt

    Your diaphragm is paralyzed and you can't breathe.

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  • 101 points Heterodynist

    See, we think animals are such mindless brutes, but we never praise the amount of restraint they typically show us…

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    41 points Disposable-Squid

    Isn't it really expensive for venomous animals to produce venom, so they'll hold off on using it unless they feel like they really need to?

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    12 points Heterodynist

    That certainly makes sense. All the same, this is probably a rare event in this octopus’ life, yet it doesn’t feel threatened enough to use venom. Pretty cool!!

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    8 points DrRatio-PhD

    https://www.reddit.com/r/instantkarma/comments/1j6lrad/man_in_car_challenges_elk_and_learns_the_hard_way/

    It's a mistake to think that they aren't trying to communicate with us. (audio on)

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    2 points Heterodynist

    Amen, this is awesome!!

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  • 35 points DuncanHynes

    Bro....bro staahp, leave me alone, I'm telln' ya...bro...

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    1 points Raymond911

    gat gat gat

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  • 34 points Fallen_Angel_Xaphan

    I am currently making a bucket list of every animal on this planet I want to pet.

    And the blue-ringed octopus is on the very bottom of that list because I would be too paranoid to go near it in anything less than an armoured navy diver suit.

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    16 points scaryfaise

    Add Cone Snail to that list, right around the bottom with Blue Ringed Octopus.

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  • 28 points linzzzzi

    Bless that octopus for being so so nice and patient even after that idiot keeps grabbing it

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    19 points TheSleepyBarnOwl

    luckily for us venomous animals don't like to use their venom. It's very costly to produce so they only use it when they have to. Mostly for hunting.

    The dude's lucky the octopus decided that it'd rather swim away than waste venom on him.

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    7 points justanotterdude

    Damn I never thought me being so worthless could save my life

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    2 points Tyranothesaurus

    Less about your worth, and more about animals try to preserve their resources and energy to hunt prey they can actually consume. Humans wouldn't be on the diet of many creatures due to our size, and they know it.

    That's why things like spiders and the like won't typically use venom even the event they do bite, because they know you're too big to be something they can actually hunt. Same reason Centipedes go all out using their venom on all the critters around the house, but never use it on you. You're not their prey.

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  • 10 points Subacai

    Why is it always the blue-ringed octopus? You'd think it's gotten enough exposure by now that people would stop a second and think.

    Then again, people still get out of safari cars to play with big cats, sooo...

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    5 points anon_y_mousey

    Because it's pretty and blue

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    8 points Subacai

    You know what? I accept that explanation. Because humans, as a group, really suffer from "ooh, shiny!"

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    3 points NotPennysBoat_42

    But Kitty!

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    2 points Subacai

    😹

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    2 points Beneficial_Prune389

    Honestly agreed. The Blue Ringed Octopus were one of the first species of Octopus I ever learned about in my life. Primarily because it’s the most notable venomous species of octopus. I learned it back in elementary school.

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  • 2 points VintAge6791

    We get it, Aquaman, yes, you're very cool in the right circumstances.

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  • 2 points NotPennysBoat_42

    I understand that it takes a lot of energy to produce the venom, but I am petty enough that if I was a blue-ringed octopus, I would totally sting that dude!

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  • 1 points Sea-Tax3787

    *muffled because of having the octopus in his mouth* "*chuckles* i'm in danger"

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  • 1 points DentistEmbarrassed70

    So is the slime venom or the bite venom?

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