Blue-Ringed Octopus

The Blue-Ringed Octopus was the first installment in the Tiny Venom Series.

I have a deep fascination with octopuses and their intelligence, so it seemed like a natural place to start. Then I came across this tiny specimen, about the size of a golf ball, carrying a lethal dose of tetrodotoxin.

The blue rings are a warning. When they flash brightly, the octopus is basically saying, "Back off." Every photo and video I’ve seen of one flashing its rings makes it pretty clear that someone has gotten way too close.

Tiny, intelligent, beautiful, and absolutely not interested in being bothered.