Got a spare $650 tucked away under the mattress? Then you might consider this lovely BioBangle from Raven's Clay Studios in Massachusetts. Clearly, the inspiration for this pricey bauble was a Greater Blue-Ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), one of the three (or four) species of Blue-Ringed octopus. Unlike it's relatives that are found only in Australian waters, the Greater Blue-Ringed spans the tropical western Pacific Ocean.
While the Greater Blue-Ringed octopus is a living jewel all on its own, it's probably best not to get it anywhere near your wrist. The diminutive octopus species is highly venomous. The major neurotoxin component of Blue-Ringed octopus venom is identical to tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin which is also found in pufferfish and cone snails. Tetrodotoxin blocks sodium channels, causing motor paralysis and sometimes respiratory arrest leading to cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. The toxin is created by bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus.
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