all creatures [great and small]

1. 
   

   sarahroseparty:

   From Wired.com:

   A research expedition to Antarctica to study the region’s octopus life has returned with descriptions of four new species, and the first known sub-zero venoms.

   “Antarctic octopus venom works at temperatures that would stop other venoms in their tracks,” said biochemist Bryan Fry of the University of Melbourne, who led the expedition.

   Antarctic octopuses eat a wide variety of animals, from clams to fish. They catch their prey with their tentacles and use their venom to kill them, much like snakes.

   The venoms are being studied as potential sources of pain-killers, Fry said, because they work on the nervous system. So far, analysis of the venom has revealed two toxins that are new to science.

   The scientists still don’t know what biochemical tricks the octopuses use to keep their venom working at freezing temperatures.

1 year ago 309 notes
Notes
1. turtacular reblogged this from thoroughlymad
2. inthewindandwater liked this
3. asknaomh liked this
4. aristolo reblogged this from thoroughlymad
5. herrdoktornils liked this
6. thoroughlymad reblogged this from buddhabrot
7. mellyjellybelly reblogged this from fuckyeahoctopi
8. thesmileoctopus reblogged this from fuckyeahoctopi
9. mcbec reblogged this from fuckyeahoctopi
10. septemberended reblogged this from c0cochanel
11. c0cochanel reblogged this from poseidonsarmpit
12. poseidonsarmpit reblogged this from fuckyeahoctopi
13. monastasia reblogged this from rapekittens
14. rapekittens reblogged this from fuckyeahoctopi and added:

    A research expedition to Antarctica to study the region’s octopus life has returned with descriptions of four new...

15. alia-landham reblogged this from notyourmother
16. guywithalisthp reblogged this from ahypotheticaladventure
17. fdtw liked this
18. kissme-youfool reblogged this from moon-queen-riri
19. lolrumu liked this
20. glassesandlove liked this
21. matriarch-aethyta reblogged this from moon-queen-riri and added:

    All I can think is how bloody cute it looks

22. matriarch-aethyta liked this
23. raremon liked this
24. timesseven liked this
25. coyolxa liked this
26. moon-queen-riri reblogged this from notyourmother
27. moon-queen-riri liked this
28. notyourmother reblogged this from ahypotheticaladventure
29. notyourmother liked this
30. kaleidoscopicmind liked this
31. sparesouls liked this
32. ahypotheticaladventure reblogged this from jade-madison
33. batbooty reblogged this from cry-babies
34. ratsinthekitchen liked this
35. brokenfeathersonrippedlace reblogged this from mentalshampoo
36. brokenfeathersonrippedlace liked this
37. mentalshampoo reblogged this from jade-madison
38. cry-babies reblogged this from jade-madison
39. mzncnfdk liked this
40. jade-madison reblogged this from thelostcontinent
41. allihaveareillusionsofgrandeur liked this
42. jkbutnotreally reblogged this from antis0cialwh0re
43. anndjustlikethat reblogged this from thelostcontinent
44. anndjustlikethat liked this
45. uhhlivya liked this
46. antis0cialwh0re reblogged this from zeechelseamarie
47. petitroi liked this
48. provehito-inaltum liked this
49. upallnightfightingdemons liked this
50. usedlungs reblogged this from thelostcontinent
51. Show more notesLoading...