Deadly octopus spotted on Silverleaves Beach

A WALKER on Silverleaves Beach spotted two blue ringed octopuses on the sand about one hundred metres from each other heading towards the water last week.

A photograph of one of the colourful octopuses was posted to Facebook by the walker, receiving hundreds of reactions and comments from the public.

Not surprising, as the tiny creatures are rarely spotted in the wild. They are reclusive and antisocial, and prefer to hide or camouflage in rock pools, crevices and shells according to Australia Geographic.

There are at least ten different species in the world, they only grow to 12 cm and they are all highly venomous with enough poison to kill 26 humans – with no known anti-venom. 

“As a lifesaver, the first message really is don’t touch a blue ring octopus,” said Jason Close, President of the Woolamai Surf Life Saving Club. 

Jason explained that just like any other type of marine creature if it gets disturbed while in its natural habitat it will put up defence mechanisms. 

“Sometimes the reason people get stung is when they try to pick up marine creatures and really the best thing to do is stay away from them. If a person sees one, tries to pick it up, or remove it to a different place, it’s not a good idea, they should stay away from it and leave it alone.” 

While the Surf Lifesaving club doesn’t keep track of marine species in the area, anecdotally they know the octopus inhabit the island, and as a surf club haven’t yet had to treat anybody for a bite from a blue ring octopus. 

“They do tend to be in rock pools and places that are fairly rocky. The beaches that we patrol at Woolamai probably aren’t the locations that they’re most likely to be found in, but certainly they are in places on Phillip Island where there’s rocks or places where they can attach themselves to.”

“I don’t think there’s heaps of them, but they are around. Like any marine creature, you will get jellyfish, you’ll get stingrays, you’ll get creatures all around the island.” 

Jason commented that in the first instance if someone is stung or suspects they may have been, they should immediately call for an ambulance, as it could turn very serious quite quickly. 

“Call an ambulance and apply a compression bandage around the bite and then immobilise that limb,” Jason advised. 

“Keep the person still and then assess them, assess their breathing, they may need CPR, but the important thing is to call an ambulance as soon as possible.”