The crustacean may try to hold one of the octopus' arms with one of its pincers. It may seem like the octopus is in large disadvantage. The octopus, tortured by the pain inflicted by the pincers, will secrete its ink. Taking advantage of the confusion that the cloud of ink provokes, the octopus will then try a general attack on the lobster. The eight tentacles moving like snakes will surround the lobster. This time, the confusion will be detrimental to the crustacean. The pincers will be immobilized and the octopus will approach his mouth to the cephalic area of his pray to inject him his poison. After some convulsions, the octopus will be the winner of the fight. The poison that an octopus secretes is a powerful weapon, usually not lethal to humans. There is only one species to fear, the Australian blue-ringed octopus. His "secretion contains a neurotoxin that constitutes the deadliest venom known in nature, capable of killing an adult human in minutes. However, these octopuses do not bite humans unless handled or disturbed." (Stewart, "Armed But Not Dangerous") The venom attacks the victim's muscles, paralyzing the victim and making it difficult to breath. "Mouth to mouth resuscitation can keep the victim alive and the poison gradually wears off after twenty-four hours, apparently leaving no side effects." (Norman, "The blue ringed octopus") People who have survived such an experience tell of the terror felt while laying down immobile and conscious while people around them declared them dead.
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The tentacles of an octopus are covered with suckers which are used to grip and taste things. Each sucker contains up to ten thousand neurons which are used both to touch and taste. The brain of the octopus processes all tactile information as well as coordinates the movement of the eight tentacles which are used to walk, swim, crawl, burrow, dig, eat, etc.
Due to the lack of a protective shell, as it is the case in other cephalopods, the octopus' survival relies totally on his camouflage and escape capabilities.