Blue-ringed Octopus
Hapalochlaena lunulata
Sighting evidence at An Thoi Islands, Phu Quoc
Photo: uwkwaj · CC BY-NC
Blue-ringed octopus inhabit the shallow rubble and coral patches of the An Thoi Islands, their rings pulsing a brilliant iridescent blue when alarmed as a warning of the tetrodotoxin venom potent enough to kill a human in minutes. Despite their danger, they are among the most photographed critters in Phu Quoc diving because of their striking appearance and tendency to hunt openly on reef rubble during daylight hours. They prey on small crabs and shrimp, paralyzing them with venomous saliva injected through a bite, then consuming the soft tissues at leisure.
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.