Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Univ. of Calif. Ecological Reserve, Cambria, San Luis Obispo Co., California, March 1-2, 2003

Rancho Marino Image

This is what the red octopus did to Dina. The bite led to pain and numbness, with noticeable swelling within one day, but reduced to a red numb spot that was "itchy" by class on March 5. Dina was lucky, and is even fiercely proud of her remaining octopus-inflicted scar tissue. Read this account of what is possible with a red octopus bite.

Seattle Aquarium employee, Roland Anderson, recommended this source of information about octopus bites:

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Image by D.J. Eernisse © 2003