Octopus beak
Poisonous and venomous marine animals of the world. Octopus envenomation through a plastic bag via a salivary proboscis. My thanks go to Ben Brown for sharing his experience with me and to an anonymous reviewer for greatly improving the manuscript.ĪNDERSON, R.C. We also don't know if this treatment will prove effective in reducing the trauma from the bites of other octopus species, but it may be a place to start until we learn otherwise. However, as evidenced by the employee's systemic symptoms in the days following the bite, such treatment may not be totally effective. In the instance recounted above, immediate hot water treatment was effective in neutralizing the localized effects of the bite of O. Hot water is the suggested as immediate first aid treatment for the bites and puncture wounds of octopuses (ibid) and other marine creatures such as lionfish or stonefish (Thomas and Scott, 1997). Although the bite of other cephalopods, such as octopuses in the genus Haplochleana, are known to be fatal (Halstead, 1988), there is relatively little written on the treatment of octopus bites. rubescens, as in other octopuses, at the time of the bite, the animals inject a proteolytic enzyme or venom via the salivary proboscis (Ballering, et al., 1972). The bite of an octopus is produced by its beak-like jaws located in the mouth at the center of the arms. Octopus rubescens is known for its potent bites (Halstead, 1949 Berry and Halstead, 1954 Oglesby, 1972 Anderson, 1987 Halstead, 1988 Hochberg, 1997). rubescens bite on an Aquarium employee 20 years earlier, necrosis at the bite site continued for about a month. In contrast, in the case of an untreated O. Although there was no localized evidence left from the bite, the victim reported headaches and weakness for a week following the bite.
#Octopus beak skin#
There were several residual blisters on the skin from the hot water, which persisted for about a week. The next day the bite could scarcely be seen or felt.
![octopus beak octopus beak](https://otlibrary.com/wp-content/gallery/blue-ringed-octopus/articleimage.jpg)
The hospital then applied an ointment for the blisters around the bite caused by the hot water.
![octopus beak octopus beak](https://amazingcephalopods.weebly.com/uploads/4/3/3/5/43355237/647414317.jpg)
Interestingly, the hospital called the Aquarium to get advice on the treatment. The employee then went to Harborview Hospital in Seattle, the area's main trauma care center. The pain and swelling dissipated within a minute. The employee poured the hot water directly over the wound and the adjacent affected area. The lapsed time was about 20 minutes between the bite and the first aid treatment. A nearby espresso stand (only in Seattle!) supplied the hot water. Other Aquarium employees suggested immersing the wound in hot water, hot as the employee could stand. When swelling and "fiery" pain began to extend up the back of the hand and wrist to his mid-forearm, the employee called the Aquarium on his cellular phone. After about ten minutes, localized pain was noticed at the wound site. When he noticed the bite, the employee sucked on the wound to extract the venom, but this is not likely to have done much good, particularly in light of the further symptoms. The small puncture wound (less than 5 mm) was consistent with a bite from the beak of the small octopus (24.5 g, 3.4cm mantle length, corresponding to an arm span of about 10 cm). The bite was not noticed at first, as there was no immediate pain from the bite.Ībout a minute later, the employee noticed blood and confirmed the presence of a small puncture wound at the site of the bite. The bite was located on the back of his hand above the wrist bone of his ring finger. As the octopus was being handled by the Aquarium employee using a gloved hand, it abruptly swam to the ungloved hand and bit the employee. The octopus was placed in a bucket to show the class.
![octopus beak octopus beak](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6cc3ELxTkPs/TrZkO-FHFNI/AAAAAAAAEe0/BV08JhUxo4w/s1600/1215%2Bno3.jpg)
Several nearby scuba divers caught a red octopus ( Octopus rubescens Berry, 1953) and brought it to shore to give to the Aquarium. On May 12, 1998, a Seattle Aquarium employee was leading a beach walk at Saltwater State Park (20 miles south of Seattle on Puget Sound, Washington State, USA). This article originally appeared in The Festivus, 1999, 30(4):45-46 and is reprinted here with permission from the author and The Festivus. An Octopus Bite and its Treatment - The Cephalopod PageĪn Octopus Bite and its Treatment << Cephalopod Articles | By Roland C.