Metazoa info

[Duke Guilmon]

Greater blue-ringed octopus



Hapalochlaena lunulata

Size: 12-20cm

Weight: 10-100 grams

Life expectancy: No data

Location: This animal is found only in Australian waters and north of Papua New Guinea. They make their homes in coral reefs. 



Taxonomy:
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: Coleoidea
Cohort: Neocoleoidea
Superorder: Octopodiformes
Order: Octopoda
Suborder: Incirrina
Family: Octopodidae
Genus: Hapalochlaene
Species: Hapalochlaena lunulata

Diet: This animal will eat crabs, shrimp, and fish

Anatomy: H.lunulata have blue rings. These rings warm predators that it is venomous. The venom is made by bacteria in the salivary glands. The venom will lead to cardiac arrest in prey.

Behavior: These guys are solitary. They don't do much but wait and hunt. When fight is no as good as flight, it will use jet propulsion to move away.

Reproduction: The male starts the mating by caressing the female. He then grabs the female and transfers his sperm. He does this by sticking his hectocotlyus in her mantle. Funny thing, males will mount other males in their mating frenzy, but these don't last as long. The female lays 50 eggs by the end of autumn. The eggs hatch after six months, and the female dies.

Relationship with other animals: No data



Blue-ring fled

Other sources:

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hapa..._lunulata/

http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/blue-ringed-octopus

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinel...d_octopus1