We often underestimate small creatures, not realizing that some of these vibrant animals can easily be lethal. Many of them possess poisons that can kill within minutes. Predicting the toxicity of creatures, especially underwater ones, is challenging. One such small but beautiful underwater creature is more dangerous than cyanide.
Don’t let its size fool you – the blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill a human in as little as 20 minutes! Though it uses the toxin primarily for defence, it also comes in handy to take down small prey like crabs and shrimp 🐙💪
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While many believe snakes have the most dangerous poisons, the Blue-Ringed Octopus is actually far more deadly. This small octopus can kill a healthy person within 20 minutes and has enough venom to kill 26 people. A video of this creature recently went viral on social media, posted by the Lewis Pugh Foundation on X. The user wrote that Despite its small size, the blue-ringed octopus possesses venom potent enough to be lethal to a human within 20 minutes. While primarily a defense mechanism, this venom is also effective for hunting small prey such as crabs and shrimp.
The blue-ringed octopus has symbiotic bacteria in its salivary glands that produce tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent neurotoxin. TTX blocks nerve impulse transmission in the human nervous system, preventing muscles from contracting, which can be fatal. According to various reports, TTX is 1000 times more toxic than cyanide and is found in a variety of animals, including fish, amphibians, and shellfish, such as pufferfish.
TTX quickly affects the human body by weakening and paralyzing muscles. Victims experience side effects like vomiting and dizziness, eventually losing the ability to move. The diaphragm becomes paralyzed, leading to respiratory failure within minutes of exposure.
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