Blue-ringed Octopus
Hapalochlaena lunulata
Sighting evidence at Boatyard Wreck, Lankayan Island
Photo: uwkwaj · CC BY-NC
One of the ocean's most venomous animals, the blue-ringed octopus hunts small crabs and shrimps among the wreck timbers during the day, its iridescent blue rings flashing only when agitated. Lankayan's boatyard wreck hosts a resident population that shelters in the engine casing and cavities formed by collapsed planking. Divers who observe from a safe distance are rewarded with extended behavioural sequences including colour-change displays and prey capture.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Blue-ringed Octopus is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.