Each of several small Indo-Pacific octopuses constituting the genus Hapalochlaena, which can change their colour to show blue rings and lines, and are noted for being dangerously venomous.
Origin
1930s; earliest use found in Victorian Naturalist.
Definition of blue-ringed octopus in US English:
blue-ringed octopus
noun
Each of several small Indo-Pacific octopuses constituting the genus Hapalochlaena, which can change their colour to show blue rings and lines, and are noted for being dangerously venomous.
Origin
1930s; earliest use found in Victorian Naturalist.