Poison ocelot?

[TSandM]

On our recent trip to Dumaguete, we saw a medium sized, light colored octopus that the guide called something that sounded like "Poison ocelot". I've tried various spellings and can't find anything about an animal going by this common name. Can someone help me?

 

[knotical]

I’ll guess ocellated octopus, Octopus ocellatus.

If he were French-speaking he might have been using the word poisson for marine animal.
Or maybe he was saying the thing is poisonous.

Or D - none of the above.

or maybe Octopus mototi: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Poison-Ocellate-Octopus-Octopus-mototi

 

[oszillodrom]

It is called the poison ocellate octopus, Amphioctopus siamensis (used to be called Octopus mototi I think). Ocellate from lat. ocellus, small eye, for the blue 'eye spot'.

 

[boulderjohn]

It is called the poison ocellate octopus, Amphioctopus siamensis (used to be called Octopus mototi I think). Ocellate from lat. ocellus, small eye, for the blue 'eye spot'.

Thanks for this information. I used it to gather the following sources:
Amphioctopus siamensis
Poison Ocellate Octopuses, Amphioctopus siamensis ~ MarineBio.org

The first source includes first aid advice for those who handle it. I was present and saw the same specimen as the OP, and I don't recall getting any warnings about it.

 

[oszillodrom]

You guys are lucky. In about 100 dives in Sulawesi and 500 dives around Mabul/Borneo, I have never seen one.

And they are harmless unless you try to handle them.

 

[Jax]

You guys are lucky. In about 100 dives in Sulawesi and 500 dives around Mabul/Borneo, I have never seen one.

And they are harmless unless you try to handle them.

Harmless? You should have seen this guy!

He was all posturing and puffing up and charging at Peter Guy like he was going to make mincemeat of him!



Of course, the Ocellate was the size of a teacup, and was hanging out in a vodka bottle, so the display was more amusing than frightening.

Peter Guy in position for a picture:

Zoom - he is so cute!

 

[oszillodrom]

Of course, a poison ocelot would be quite scary.

P.S. From the photo, he seems to have quite an expensive taste.

 

[boulderjohn]

Despite all the stories of the intelligence of the octopus, I have to wonder about an animal that hangs out with Grey Goose when perfectly good brands can be had for half the price.

 

[lamarpaulski]

Nothing worse than a poisonous octopus drunk on vodka.