Blue-crowned octopus: description of the species, habitat, reproduction and content in the aquarium

The coastal waters of the Pacific have many dangers. For example, here there is a blue-ringed octopus (hapalochlaena). Meeting with this representative of the underwater world can be fatal even for humans, because of its poison there is no antidote. But the beauty of this creature fascinates and attracts attention. Although for the rest of the underwater creatures, it is a warning of danger.

What will biologists tell about?

The blue-crowned octopus is a cephalopod cephalopod . The first description was made by Guy Robson, circa 1929. It is known that there are three types of these mollusks, but the existence of a fourth, unexplored species is assumed:

1. The octopus is large blue-crooked.
2. Octopus south blue-crowned.
3. The octopus is blue-striped.

The species whose existence remains in question is called Hapalochlaena nierstraszi in Latin. It was discovered in 1938, but only one specimen caught sight of the researchers, and scientists could not obtain a second material for the study.

Features of appearance

The cinched octopus is a small creature. On average, it weighs about 100 grams with a body length of not more than twenty cm. However, the shellfish is very aggressive and fabulously beautiful. Skin of its yellowish-brown color. On it a bright ornament painted about six dozen blue or blue rings with a black rim. Therefore, sometimes there is a name blue-ceded (blue-ringed) octopus. This proves that the rings of the inhabitant of the depths are of different shades.

When a small mollusc is angry, its skin becomes covered with brown spots, and the rings become brighter and more noticeable. This reaction is not unique to the octopus. The octopus is as blue as the other cephalopod species, it has special cells that produce a chromatophor. However, other species use this feature for disguise, and not for intimidation.

Features of the structure

All octopuses have a short soft body, the back of which is oval. The mouth, or rather the oral opening with powerful beak-like jaws, is at the point of convergence of the tentacles. In the depths of the pharynx there is a special organ called the radula. It looks like a grater for grinding food. By the way, the tentacles of the mollusk are 8 pieces. They are long, with each other articulated with a webbed and equipped with several rows of suckers.

The blue-crowned octopus has a mantle that covers the anus. And he, like the other octopuses, has 3 hearts. One supplies the blood to the body, and the other two - pushes blood through the gills.

The octopus blue-crowned does not have bones in the body. This allows him to easily change the shape of the body, flattening at the bottom or seeping into small holes. The peculiarity of the structure helps to trap prey.

And the handsome man is able to regenerate. The mollusk often loses tentacles in fights and can grow new ones.

Where can I find a blue-crowned handsome man?

As already mentioned, the blue-eyed octopus is a resident of the Pacific Ocean. The greatest chance to meet a poisonous handsome exists in the coastal waters of Australia. This species of octopus comes from the shores of the Japanese islands, in the coastal waters of Indonesia, near the Philippines and New Guinea. A vague fourth species was caught in the Bay of Bengal.

Than eats?

The ocean prepared for the cephalopod predator a fairly extensive menu. The cinched octopus hunts for shrimp, hermit crabs, small fish and crabs. According to hunting habits, these mollusks resemble spiders. Of course, octopuses do not weave nets, they attack small animals, pierce (bite) protective shells, and inject poison into the body. The victim paralyzes, she loses the ability to resist, and the tissues of her body gradually soften. The octopus can only suck the gruel from the shell.

Features of reproduction

During the mating season the male is overexcited and is constantly ready for mating. Often, he loses control over himself and the females have to repel the partner. The mating ends with fertilization, after which the female makes the only mantle in her short life, she will take care of until six months. All this time the female remains without food.

A large blue-crowned octopus lays eggs in a hole, and the southern blue-and-white octopus attaches them to tentacles. A week and a half after the appearance of the young, when the children begin to eat independently, the female octopus dies of exhaustion.

Octopus and man

A small cephalopod with a beautiful pattern on the skin is an insanely dangerous creature. Its poison can kill more than 20 people. Nervous-paralytic action of toxins leads to suffocation. Therefore, immediately after a bite, you need to seek help. Doctors say that if a person does not die within the first 24 hours after a bite, then he can survive.

Many fans of exotics are interested in whether the blue-eyed octopus and the home aquarium are compatible? Experts do not recommend keeping houses of such dangerous animals, but, nevertheless, every year several thousand copies get to the markets of America and Europe.

If a person decided to tickle the nerves and run a blue-eyed octopus into the aquarium, then he should be ready for trouble. The mollusk is intelligent, and will try to get out of the confinement. He will live in captivity for a very short time - several weeks or months. With none of the habitual inhabitants of the aquarium predator will not get along. And no matter how careful the owner, there is always a guest or relative who wants to take a closer look at the handsome man and will be attacked. So it's not worth the risk.