What you don’t know can’t hurt you
Aussie TikTokers have reacted with horror after a video went viral of a tourist picking up one of the world’s most dangerous creatures with their bare hands.
In a clip posted on her TikTok account, @katapillah is seen standing in the sea when she reaches in and pulls out a little octopus, which crawls over her hand.
It all seems like a lovely scene showcasing the beauty of nature – until you see the caption describing the sea creature as “dangerously beautiful” and that the TikToker has picked up a blue ringed octopus.
After a little bit of research, you quickly realise this tourist was dicing with danger.
@katapillah The dangerously beautiful sea ? #fyp #ocean #blueringedoctopus #immune #stillalive #nature #sealife ♬ Under the Sea (Instrumental) [From “The Little Mermaid”] – London Music Works
Considering the variety of dangerous wildlife down under, it usually takes a lot to worry an Aussie. So the fact there were plenty in the comments section informing this TikToker they had been very lucky should tell you all you need to know about how dangerous this marine creature is.
One wrote: “All Aussies just gulped and shook their heads.”
Another added: “Every Aussie definitely face palmed HARD.”
Replying to another comment telling her how lucky she was, the TikToker admitted she “didn’t know until half an hour later what it was.”
The Natural History Museum describes the blue-ringed octopus as “small, vibrant and exceptionally deadly.”
The blue rings are an example of a creature using bright colours to warn potential predators that they’re pretty poisonous and probably should not be eaten.
The poison of the little octopus is neurotoxic, meaning that it blocks the transmission of nerve impulses, stopping muscles from being able to contract. The venom is more than 1,000 times more toxic than cyanide.
The tetrodotoxin (TTX) poison can cause death by respiratory failure “within a matter of minutes.” Oh, and there is no antidote for TTX.
Unsurprisingly, the Natural History Museum says you “should never pick one up.”
Knowing this, it’s difficult not to agree with this person who recommended under the video that the tourist “not waste anymore money on Lottery Tickets as you just used up 2x Lifetimes of Luck.”
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