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 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 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.
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