Read the article below and take notes using one of the methods you learned about in your previous lessons. Submit a picture of y
our notes using the dropbox below.
In June 2020, an Australian scuba diver was diving near Bondi Beach when he saw something unusual. As he was setting up to photograph a sea spider on a rock, he noticed some blue flashing rings. Looking more closely, he saw that the rings were on a small octopus. Luckily, he knew to stay far away. He was inches away from a southern blue-ringed octopus, one of the most venomous sea creatures in the world!
Sometimes, the most dangerous animals come in the smallest packages. This is definitely true for the southern blue-ringed octopus. This small animal usually only reaches a length of 8-10 inches. It usually looks like a common, small octopus. When it does not feel threatened, its skin is a light brown color. However, if a predator makes the octopus feel threatened, its skin will start to pulse with bright blue rings. This is how the octopus gets its name. When a predator sees this, it’s a visual sign, telling it to back away. If the predator doesn’t take the hint, the southern blue-ringed octopus might use its venom.
The venom that the southern blue-ringed octopus releases is more deadly than any venom released by land animals. Venom is different from poison. The venoms of many octopuses don’t immediately kill their victims. Instead, many of these venoms paralyze their victims. This means that the animal injected with the venom from one of these octopuses cannot move or defend itself. Eventually, the venom paralyzes the animal’s whole body, even its heart, so it dies. All octopuses are venomous, but the southern blue-ringed octopus’s venom is especially strong.
If the southern blue-ringed octopus feels threatened, it will use its venom in one of two ways. Sometimes, the octopus bites its victims, injecting them directly with venom. Other times, it will release a cloud of venom into the water. The other animal absorbs the venom through its gills. This venom is produced by bacteria in the octopus’s salivary glands. Those are the glands that produce saliva. People also produce saliva, which is the liquid in their mouths. However, unlike people, the saliva of the southern blue-ringed octopus has a toxin in it that causes muscle paralysis in the octopus’s victims. The southern blue-ringed octopus also uses its venom to hunt for prey. Like other blue-ringed octopus species, it mostly eats crustaceans, like small crabs and shrimp.
The southern blue-ringed octopus can be found along Australia’s southern coast. The octopus is usually found in tidal pools or in shallow areas near reefs. If you see a southern blue-ringed octopus, watch out! It has enough venom in its body to kill 26 adult humans. Although they’re extremely deadly, these octopuses are not aggressive. In fact, they are often described as shy creatures. They usually hide under ledges and rocks to try to avoid interaction with larger animals. Usually, the only times they hurt humans is when they are picked up or stepped on.
Passage from ReadWorks.org
