We all know that the ocean is a dark and mysterious place, with the cold and turbulent waters hiding an entire alien world just below the surface.
Known for its ferocious sharks and poisonous jellyfish, the sea is also home to some of the strangest creatures on our beautiful planet, with blobfish and gulper eels being known to haunt the ocean’s depths.
One of these bizarre and wonderful creatures is the Giant Pacific Octopus, which is known to inhabit the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Known for their vibrant colors and extreme intelligence, these tentacled monsters are often regarded as the gentle giants of the deep.
In this article, we are going to take a look at these majestic animals, to help discern if they are really as dangerous as they appear to be.
Are Giant Pacific Octopi Venomous?
The short and simple answer to this question is yes, Giant Pacific Octopi are venomous. However, this does not mean that the species is particularly dangerous or that they even pose a threat to any humans they encounter swimming in the sea.
In an academic study from 2009, it was discovered that all species of octopus, cuttlefish and even some squid are actually venomous, although not all octopus venom is lethal to humans and has very little effect on most land-dwelling animals.
In the case of the Giant Pacific Octopus, the species uses its venom to incapacitate and devour its prey. However, the venom itself has very little effect on humans and is unlikely to cause any lasting damage or harm.
Can A Giant Pacific Octopus Kill A Human?
Although Giant Pacific Octopi are not often regarded as a dangerous or unpredictable species, this does not mean that they aren’t capable of attacking or harming a human, especially when they are placed in situations where they feel threatened or attacked.
Regardless of their kind and playful natures, Giant Pacific Octopi are still the largest known species of octopus on the planet, with the colorful cephalopod being capable of reaching 30 feet in length.
Add to that a whopping weight of 110 lbs and you have a very strong and powerful animal that is perfectly capable of attacking the average-sized human.
Apart from the size of the species, the Giant Pacific Octopus also comes equipped with a vast arsenal of biological weapons, which it can use to attack and injure unsuspecting humans.
Arguably, the most dangerous of these weapons are the suckers, which can be found running along the length of the octopus’s tentacles.
Known for their strength and powerful suction, these suckers are used by the octopus to latch onto rocks and prey and can be very difficult to remove once they have been attached.
Another weapon in the octopus’s arsenal is the sharp beak that the creature has instead of a mouth. With this beak, octopi are capable of delivering a very nasty bite, which can easily cut through the flesh of a human being.
Fortunately for us, Giant Pacific Octopi are very shy creatures and are more likely to flee from humans than attack them. While the species still has the ability to inflict harm on us, no recorded attacks thus far have ever resulted in injury or death.
What Happens If An Octopus Bites You?
In 2019, a video of a woman getting bitten by a Pacific Octopus went viral on the internet, leading many people to question what happens when you are bitten by one of these strange and fascinating creatures?
Well, as we previously mentioned in the section above, Giant Pacific Octopuses are born with scissor-like beaks instead of mouths, which they use to devour their various prey.
Because the diet of the Pacific Octopus often features a wide variety of different fish and crustaceans, their beaks have to be sharp so that they can cut through hard exteriors such as crab shells.
However, this also means that they can give a human being a powerful bite whenever they feel threatened or attacked.
After the video of the woman getting bitten went viral, it was revealed that she had received a nasty wound on her face, which did not stop bleeding for over 30 minutes.
She also began to experience swelling along her cheeks and throat, which is also a common side effect of the Pacific Octopus’s venom.
Most species of octopus administer a venom that contains neurotoxins which help to paralyze their prey and Giant Pacific Octopuses are no different.
This particular species of octopus actually has paralyzing saliva, which contains a cocktail of proteins such as tyramine and cephalotoxin.
Because of these various proteins and toxins, octopus venom does come with the side effect of being able to cause swelling and bleeding in humans, which can be uncomfortable and painful when not properly treated.
However, you must always remember that most octopus venom is not lethal and can be easily combated by seeking basic medical help.
What Is The Most Deadly Octopus?
Although we have already established that most octopus venom is not lethal to humans, there is one species that is capable of killing a human being in minutes.
This species is called the Blue-Ringed Octopus, and can only be found among the warm and shallow waters of the Australian coast.
Known for their vibrant colors and deadly venom, Blue-Ringed Octopuses are actually one of the smallest species of octopus in the entire world and will usually only grow to around 2.5 inches in length.
The reason this particular species is so deadly is because their venom contains a paralyzing neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, which the octopus can secrete from all areas of its body.
If you are ever unfortunate enough to be bitten by a Blue-Ringed Octopus, then you have to seek immediate medical attention, although there is actually no guarantee that the venom will immediately kill you.
Although the octopus’s venom is considered one of the most deadly substances in the world, there have been people who have survived encounters with the tentacled creature.
And to date, there have only been three recorded deaths attributed to the Blue-Ringed Octopus and its venom.
So if you are planning on going to Australia, always make sure to keep an eye out for these tiny terrors when you are in the water!
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