Forget dingoes, crocs, sharks and snakes

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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A marvelously dangerous killing machine is also found in Australia. One of the fastest-killing toxins known to man can be found in a tiny - almost cute - cephalapod mollusc called the blue-ringed octopus.

Yep, a small octopus about the size of a quarter (if I remember US quarters correctly). Can kill you anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 minutes depending on the sting. And you don’t normally see them in their rock pools.

Australia: land of natural beauty where nearly everything can kill you.

I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

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Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site.
To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space before and after the text of the URL).

Cecil’s column can be found on-line at this link:
In Australia, do dingoes really eat babies? (22-Sep-2000)

moderator, «Comments on Cecil’s Columns»

3

My humblest apologies.

I was just tired and lazy yesterday.

4

Ans it’s size is about 20 cm . much bigger than a quarter.Much bigger than a silver dollar too .

5

Actually the one I saw was way smaller. Perhaps it was but a baby. If I get time I’ll check.

6

So which plant or animal in Australia is the source of iocane? After all, we all know that iocane comes from Australia, a land of criminals and thieves, so I clearly cannot trust you.

7

Truly, you have a dizzying intellect, Chronos.

8

Wait till he gets started!!