"New study reveals all octopuses are venomous"

[spatman]

Dr Bryan Fry from the Department of Biochemistry at the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne said that while the blue-ringed octopus species remain the only group that aredangerous to humans, the other species have been quietly using their venom for predation, such as paralysing a clam into opening its shell.

http://uninews.unimelb.edu.au/view.php?articleID=5755

[gcbryan]

I didn't think there was anything new about this. I knew that the GPO uses an enzyme that affects the muscle tissue whether it's called venomous or it is simply dissolving the tissue I didn't know. I'm no expert for sure but upon reading the article I'm not sure what is new. Any marine biologists here?

[Mongodives]

Read about it this morning.
Another reason to look and not touch.

[Greg Jensen]

I suspect this has either been 'dumbed down' so much for public release, or the reporter oversimplified it, or whatever because it's long been known that octos are poisonous to some extent or another. Of our locals, reds reportedly have a nastier bite than GPOs.

[gcbryan]

I suspect this has either been 'dumbed down' so much for public release, or the reporter oversimplified it, or whatever because it's long been known that octos are poisonous to some extent or another. Of our locals, reds reportedly have a nastier bite than GPOs.

Thanks Greg. I also know from my octo handling friends at the aquarium that reds do bite more often than GPO's. I didn't know that their bites were nastier mainly because I don't know anyone who has been bitten by a GPO.