46 



DANGEROUS MARINE ANIMALS 



One fatality is reported resulting from an octopus bite. The in- 

 cident took place near East Point, Darwin, Australia. According 

 to the account, a diver captured a small octopus of unknown species 

 which had a span of about 20 cm. The diver permitted the octopus 



Fig. 21. Bloodworm, Glycera dibranchiata Ehlers, with head enlarged. 



to crawl over his arms and shoulders, and finally to the back of his 

 neck, where the animal remained for a few moments. During the 

 period that the octopus was on his neck, a small bite was inflicted, 

 producing a trickle of blood. A few minutes after the bite, the vic- 

 tim complained of a sensation of dryness in his mouth and of dif- 

 ficulty in swallowing. After walking a short distance up the beach 

 from the scene of the accident, the victim began to vomit, developed 

 a loss of muscular control, and finally suffered from respiratory dis- 



