Greetings! The name is Time Lizzy, or Time as my friends call me. They/Them pronouns. I love to try new things, draw, sing, dance, garden, and I do some witchcraft in my free time. I'm a Hetalia role playing partner if you guys are interested.
“The blue-ringed octopus, despite its small size, carries enough venom to kill twenty-six adult humans within minutes. Their bites are tiny and often painless, with many victims not realizing they have been envenomated until respiratory depression and paralysis start to set in.[8] No blue-ringed octopus antivenom is available yet, making it one of the deadliest reef inhabitants in the ocean.”
Holy shit
And this is why I don’t go in the ocean anymore
Also the blue rings literally only show up when it is distressed so this person has angered it!!! You are in danger friend!!!
Actually this guy keeps them as pets they’re on his instagram (william_exotique) and he frequently holds then and I just? Don’t know why? And also every picture or video he posts of them shows the blue rings so they’re always in distress I just do not understand why he’s doing this
I mean OP pretty much covered it. A blue ringed octopus is almost on the level of CONE SNAIL on the list of things you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT PICK UP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
But ask and you shall receive, On this episode of “Fun Facts With Cuckoo,” DEAD. YOU’RE DEAD. EVERYTHING IS DEAD AND YOU SHOULD NEVER TOUCH ANYTHING IN THE OCEAN EVER AGAIN.
There are many things that will kill you.
[citation needed]
There are fewer, but still many things that will kill you FAST.
There are yet fewer things that kill you fast and by such an overwhelming margin of overkill that nervous laughter is our only solace in the dark of this terrible, surprisingly Lovecraftian world of unearthly horrors that we live in.
Of the things that I know about which will kill you fast via just plain insultingly potent venom, which is a not insignificant number of things because I know a not insignificant number of things, there are about 3 things in the ocean – IN THE WHOLE OCEAN – which are so insanely, mind-bogglingly deadly that there is pretty much no possible hope for survival (I mean you CAN, but god help you if you’re ever in that situation, because god’s just about damn near the only thing that CAN help you). THE. WHOLE. OCEAN.
Those three things are the Irukandji (a tiny (1cm) species of box jellyfish, which has stingers not only on its tentacles but on its BELL, for reasons no one has definitively figured out, and is so toxic despite its size its sting can cause a severe brain hemorrhage), the cone snail (a group of carnivorous sea snails that is accepted to be the most venomous animals on earth, with a STUPIDLY fast acting and extremely powerful neurotoxin that has in at least one case killed a human ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY, because the swimmer who found two beautiful shells (unfortunately cone snails tend to have very pretty shells which makes people want to pick them up) was holding them up for a picture and ended up being stabbed in the neck by not one but TWO cone snails at the same time, and it is believed that she was literally dead before she hit the ground, I mean LITERALLY in a 100% non-fictional and non-exaggerated way, in between the time the two cone snails stabbed her and the time her limp body hit the sand, she was not alive anymore), and the blue ringed octopus.
It is POSSIBLE to survive any of these. But not without immediate medical attention. Of these three, the Irukandji is by far the most treatable, because Australia and other coastal regions (including Florida and other parts of the US) are kind of experienced in dealing with box jellyfish.
The blue ringed octopus will fucking kill you. There’s no antidote for their venom, ONE COMPONENT OF WHICH (tetrodotoxin) is 1200 times deadlier than cyanide. It’s a powerful neurotoxin (most of the worst venoms are because the species that produce them need to kill or at least paralyze their prey quickly, like jellyfish whose fragile tentacles could be damaged if their food doesn’t stop struggling) that attacks the sodium channels and causes muscle paralysis. It doesn’t necessarily kill you quickly. It PARALYZES you quickly, so that you can’t really call for help or describe the problem, and you will probably end up slowly suffocating from a paralyzed diaphragm. Tetrodotoxin can be metabolized by the body in a matter of hours, but it can also kill you in a matter of minutes if you get a lethal dose (which isn’t much, the
LD50
or median lethal dose, the dose at which you have a 50% chance of survival, is only 8 MICROGRAMS per kilogram of body weight (as tested in mice)). This is, by venom standards, not a large amount, which means the animal that is capable of putting this venom inside your body is very very good at killing the absolute shit out of you.
DON’T TOUCH THE BLUE RINGED OCTOPUS.
Now, because overkill is my motto, let me briefly explain why Conus geographus is the undisputed champion of YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE, AND FURTHERMORE FUCK YOU FOR THINKING OTHERWISE.
A cone snail walks into a bar. You’d expect the bartender to ask, “what’s your poison,” but they were paralyzed before they could ask and OH LOOK they’re already FUCKING DEAD ON THE GROUND.
Conus geographus is about 4-6 inches long and nature’s equivalent of Avada Kedavra. Cone snails literally have their own KIND of toxins named after them: conotoxin. Not only is there no antidote, but their venom AGGRESSIVELY RESISTS our ability to find a cure, because we barely understand how it works AND conotoxins are so internally varied, even within a single species, that any one antidote isn’t going to help because they’re constantly mutating and evolving their venom to prevent their prey from evolving a resistance to it. Plus their venom is like, a bunch of different venoms all at once JUST IN CASE any one of them wasn’t good enough.
I want you to read these two sentences from the wiki page on conotoxin:
“Conotoxins have a variety of mechanisms of actions, most of which have not been determined.”
LD50 of tetrodotoxin is 8μg/kg? Conotoxin is 160 times more potent. FIFTY NANOGRAMS PER KILOGRAM HAS A 50% CHANCE OF KILLING YOU. A 220-POUND HUMAN HAS A 50% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL AGAINST JUST 5 MICROGRAMS OF CONOTOXIN.
I DID SOME MATH.
IT WOULD TAKE 7-9 MILLIGRAMS OF CONOTOXIN TO KILL A BLUE WHALE, THE HEAVIEST ANIMAL TO EVER LIVE. (based on weight estimates from 300-400,000 lbs.)
Conus geographus is so fucking deadly that “In two cases of envenomation, only 0.0002-0.0005 mg resulted in severe paralysis.”
THIS THING KILLS STUFF SO HARD THAT BEFORE YOU HEAR THE FIRST “MORTAL KOMBAT” IN THE MORTAL KOMBAT THEME, THERE’S PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN A FATALITY.
And guess what? Cone snails don’t do that NOOB SHIT with the superficial biting or stinging. Your wetsuit or gloves won’t protect you. Because homeboy didn’t bring teeth to evolution’s knife fight. Oh no. It brought a motherfucking radula POISON HARPOON. It’s lightning fast and has way more piercing power than some silly little cnidocytes or salivary bacteria.
Another component of their venom is being researched for its potential as a pain reliever. “WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT????” you might reasonably ask. And you would be right to do so, because science has gone too far and has surely sinned against the very image of Mollusca Kedavra. Well, it turns out the answer is “Research shows that certain component proteins of the venom target specific human pain receptors and can be up to 10,000 times more potent than morphine without morphine’s addictive properties and side-effects.” That’s right, the part of their venom that SPECIFICALLY DOESN’T HURT YOU is up to 10,000 times more potent than morphine.
Also, Conus geographus (along with one other cone snail species, C. tulipa) is the only known non-human animal to weaponize insulin. In addition to the normal insulin that the snails produce for their own use, their bodies manufacture an ADDITIONAL insulin molecule that is similar to the kind produced in fish (which they eat) for the sole purpose of stunning their prey through hypoglycemic shock. BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY’D KILL YOU HARD ENOUGH OTHERWISE.
IF you are going to survive the ALMIGHTY CONE SNAIL, WHO KNOWS NO FEAR, TRIUMPHANT HEDGEMON OF THE MOLECULAR ARMS RACE, TRUE BORN HEIR TO THE SCYTHE OF DEATH ITSELF, FISHSLAYER, GOD AMONG MOLLUSKS, WHOSE WRATH IS MERCIFUL ONLY IN ITS BREVITY, ADMIRABLE IN ITS BEAUTY AND UNSULLIED BY THE UNWORTHY TOUCH OF MORTAL HANDS OR SCALES OR REALLY ANYTHING IN RANGE OF ITS RADULA HARPOON, then literally the only thing that’s going to save you is for you to be kept alive artificially (externalizing your respiratory functions to force your body to continue breathing, basically) until the effects of the venom wear off. And because of how quickly this venom acts, you need to get that medical attention VERY, VERY FAST.
And if you don’t get it, you will still be conscious while the paralysis slowly suffocates you to death.
Don’t touch the pretty shells.
Please write a whole book.
I went to look at this guys instagram and he basically says that he has no fear of death (because he is already dying- I think he has a form of liver cancer but im not sure) : i read in the comments that the ones he has either 1) used up all their venom (i dont know how true a claim like that is but i know very little about the species) and 2) he lets them climb on him at their own pace and therefore dont feel threatened but idk kids dont touch them leave them be and dont be this guy.
Reblogging for the science smackdown, although we covered most of the point briefly last week. I’m sorry the dude has cancer, but there’s a huge difference between doing mean/foolhardy things with animals on your own because you have a death wish and broadcasting it to the entire internet as something that is acceptable.
I came here for the pretty picture and stayed for the snail/octopus smack down and dam I feel informed now.
Age gap between Eren and Levi in titan!Eren AU is about 9-10 yrs. Eren’s 10-11 and Levi ~20 when they first meet. 7 years later, Levi finally notices what’s happened right in front of his eyes: Eren has grown up. He’s a beautiful young adult and in the years of Eren’s servitude as the Survey Corps’ titan weapon, he has gained the trust of most of the Survey Corps.
He’s friendly with many of the soldiers, has endeared himself to Levi’s closest comrades, and even gained a few close friends of his own. Within the Survey Corps, Eren is more or less accepted.
So it shouldn’t be surprising when Eren starts getting attention of the non-platonic kind. Young recruits, both male and female, who linger a little too long when Eren is brought to training with Levi. Those who stick around after training for a chance to talk to the Survey Corps’ human titan. Special visitors when Eren is recovering after a difficult mission. Requests for Eren’s company by blushing youngsters in one-on-one settings. And Eren agrees to them, not knowing he’s embarking on his first ‘dates’.
Levi is conflicted about this. While he has wanted Eren to gain acceptance from humanity, if only because positive public opinion keeps Eren safe from those who still distrust the Rogue Titan, it is still bittersweet to watch his titan growing up and apart from him.
Levi is no longer the only one who commands Eren’s unshakeable loyalty. He won’t be naive forever, and Levi supposes it is better for Eren to learn about human courtship from someone his own age instead of his almost-10 years older mentor/guardian.
Eren doesn’t see him that way anyways. And it’s for the best that Levi keeps these thoughts to himself.
Ok so human-form titan!Eren keeps several of his titan-form features like his hair, eyes, and ears, and of those, only his ears give him away his true nature.
When he was a little child those ears were disproportionately big for his size, but eventually he grows into them and they stop looking quite so silly/cute and start looking more regal.
Which is a running theme as Eren matures over the course of several years right in front of Levi’s eyes. It takes him a long time to notice, because his platonic relationship as Eren’s guardian/mentor is so deeply engrained. The little feral child he took in flourishes into an attractive adolescent and then into a very handsome young adult. Everyone else notices this long before Levi does, though what doesn’t escape Levi’s attention is how Eren is quickly becoming a distraction to the young recruits whenever Levi brings him to the field.
It’s annoying as fuck, because those recruits should be focused on Levi and what he’s saying, not gawking away at Eren. Why yes, Levi supposes they are probably fascinated by the famous human-shifting Rogue Titan, but…what’s that, Petra? What do you mean they’re not staring at Eren because he’s a titan?
…oh.
Oh.
When Levi does finally notice how well Eren has grown up, it hits him like a freight train.
Ok so human-form titan!Eren keeps several of his titan-form features like his hair, eyes, and ears, and of those, only his ears give him away his true nature.
When he was a little child those ears were disproportionately big for his size, but eventually he grows into them and they stop looking quite so silly/cute and start looking more regal.
Which is a running theme as Eren matures over the course of several years right in front of Levi’s eyes. It takes him a long time to notice, because his platonic relationship as Eren’s guardian/mentor is so deeply engrained. The little feral child he took in flourishes into an attractive adolescent and then into a very handsome young adult. Everyone else notices this long before Levi does, though what doesn’t escape Levi’s attention is how Eren is quickly becoming a distraction to the young recruits whenever Levi brings him to the field.
It’s annoying as fuck, because those recruits should be focused on Levi and what he’s saying, not gawking away at Eren. Why yes, Levi supposes they are probably fascinated by the famous human-shifting Rogue Titan, but…what’s that, Petra? What do you mean they’re not staring at Eren because he’s a titan?
…oh.
Oh.
When Levi does finally notice how well Eren has grown up, it hits him like a freight train.
more headcanons for titan!Eren AU because I’m too busy to produce real content and too lazy to study:
Not everyone trusts the Rogue Titan, even (or especially) when he takes the form of a human-looking boy. The wall cult, in particular, would sooner see him captured, vivisected, and/or killed before letting him inside the walls.
But with Levi and a few other higher ranking members of the militia vouching for Eren, they compromise: Eren is permitted within the walls but only in human form, and only when wearing a specially designed collar to keep him from transforming within the city.
The collar has embedded blades that, when triggered by an attempted transformation, will spring inwards and pierce the throat and nape, killing Eren.
Eren hates it because it’s tight and chafes and leaves bruises. Levi hates it for what it represents and the constant threat to Eren’s life. But they tolerate it because they value the time they’re permitted together within the walls.
Until the day it malfunctions. The day when Eren returns to the city after months in the wilds and finds he has grown and the collar is now too tight. But it will take time to manufacture a replacement, and eager to reunite with Levi again, Eren submits to wearing it anyways.
It’s awful. It’s restricting and makes breathing a burden, but Eren is so pleased to see Levi and his other human friends after the separation that he puts up with it.
Harassment is always a risk for Eren in the city, but this time when a quarrel in the streets escalates, Eren is physically attacked. A blow to the throat trips the spring-loaded mechanism in his collar, releasing the front blade partway.
And now…fuck. Blood everywhere. Eren’s impaled through the throat and drowning in his own blood even as his accelerated healing tries to save him. Levi’s frantic to get the collar off but he’s forbidden from uncollaring Eren within city walls.
He could try to remove it by force? But no, he’s afraid it’ll trigger the second blade at the nape if he so much as jiggles it.
Carry Eren outside the walls and remove it there? But the walls are far and Levi has no idea whether Eren’s human-titan physiology can withstand the damage long enough to make it.
There’s shouting back and forth. Levi’s looking down the barrels of half a dozen Military Police rifles while Eren’s gurgling and choking blood in his lap. The Military Police are terrified and trigger happy, Eren’s damn near painting the streets red, and Levi’s terrified Eren might die before he can work out a resolution.
Pixis saves the day by letting Levi take Eren to the underground prison, the only place in the city they can get permission to remove Eren’s collar. It’s the second time Eren has been confined here, and the place has nothing but bad memories for both him and Levi.
Still, Eren’s life is more important than his freedom right now, so Levi reluctantly imprisons Eren and removes his collar. The confined space of the underground prison might prevent Eren from transforming, but it is also hidden from sunlight and therefore hinders Eren’s healing.
It’s a slow and difficult recovery.
(seriously do I even need to write fic when I headcanon so much)
