Adaptation

Along with possessing its lethal toxin, which most animals, especially octopuses, don't have, the greater blue-ringed octopus has made other adaptations that attribute to its survival.  Like many other octopuses, Hapalochlaena lunulata adapted chromatophores that allow them to blend into their surroundings.  Chromatophores are specialized cells that some organisms, like chameleons, utilize to either hide themselves from predators or sneak up to capture their prey.  Although the blue sticks out in the picture shown here, the rest of the animal appears to fade into the background of the rock it is positioned on.  Even locating the eyes can prove to be difficult!

Another feature that is exhibited by Hapalochlaena lunulata, as well as all octopuses, is their extreme flexibility.  This flexibility is attributed to the criss-cross pattern of the fibers found in their musculature.  This allows for the octopus to squeeze through extremely tiny areas that are about the size of their eyes. 

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