Location: Romblon Island
Depth: medium depth
Cover Photo: Pipat Cat Kosumlaksamee
Scientific Name: Hapalochlaena lunulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
Type: Romblon Cephalopod
Group: Cephalopods
Family: Octopodidae
Despite its attractive blue-ringed features this tiny creature is one of the world’s most venomous marine animal. The Blue-Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), a small marine invertebrate, is mostly seen in tropical waters from northern Australia to Japan, including Romblon Island in the Philippines. It spends most of its time hiding between corals and rocks displaying camouflaging pattern, but the octopus can flash around 60 iridescent blue rings as a warning display. They are not aggressive and tend to avoid confrontation by flattening their body and blending into their surroundings.