While octopuses generally avoid humans, attacks have sometimes been verified. For example, a 240-centimeter (8-foot) Pacific octopus, said to be almost perfectly camouflaged, approached a diver and tried to wrap itself around the diver and his camera. Although octopus and squid are formidable fighters in nature, they are usually not dangerous to people. That doesn't mean they're always harmless.
Some species are especially well equipped to defend against larger creatures, and are strong enough to kill a human if they feel threatened. Some octopuses have venom that can even be deadly to humans, but attacks are rare. In fact, octopus wrestling was actually a sport in past decades, although it has since been banned in places where it was popular, such as Washington State. Of course, there are a number of species ranging from scary big guys worth fighting for to this irresistible little guy.
No, octopuses don't attack humans, but they will defend themselves if they feel threatened. They must be treated with respect and care, since each species of octopus contains poison. The giant Pacific octopus is generally not considered a dangerous octopus, unlike its counterpart, the blue-ringed octopus. We've seen that other octopuses have a penchant for photography, so it's possible that he was really interested in Nienaber's camera.
In addition, with an average weight of 110 pounds (and a highest recorded weight of 600 pounds), they could easily attack an average-sized human if they so chose. While they have the power to harm people if they want to, so far no attack has been killed or harmful. However, if you find yourself being attacked, try to remove their tentacles one by one and then get out of there as soon as possible. Laboratory experiments also reveal that octopuses memorize and differentiate individuals and that they learn by observing each other.
While it was undoubtedly an unpleasant experience, it is likely that the baby octopus acted out of fear, feeling threatened after being pulled out of the water and placed near the woman's mouth. Most of the time octopuses use their beautiful colors as fun, unless they are threatened and known to defend themselves against humans. Octopuses are wild animals that should not be touched and can show unpredictable behavior at times. Other negative encounters of what experts believe were giant Pacific octopus include one with another Russian diver, where the octopus clings first to the diver and then to the camera during the filming process.
Although most octopus seem to be pretty and cute, especially small ones, there are also giant octopus to worry about. It's incredibly rare to be attacked by an octopus, and if you are, chances are you've invaded their personal space. Divers, professional amateurs increasingly share experiences of great mutual curiosity, unexpected interactions and even what some call human-octopus friendship. Octopuses don't like being out of water, and if you break the surface, they'll often let go and retreat.
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