The evolution and origin of tetrodotoxin acquisition in the blue-ringed octopus (genus Hapalochlaena)

Brooke L. Whitelaw, Ira R. Cooke, Julian Finn, Kyall Zenger, J.M. Strugnell

Blue ringed octopus make use of a deadly neurotoxin, TTX (tetrodotoxin) which is also found a wide variety of other animals. In order to do this they must be able to tolerate the toxin themselves, as well as acquire it from the environment or produce it. This paper reviews what we know about the evolution of ttx acquisition in blue ringed octopuses.

Featured image is by Flickr user Rickard Ling (CC 2.0)

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