3 euro Austria 2022 - The Blue Ringed Octopus

The blue-ringed octopus is a brilliant example of the fascination and color of the underwater world. One of the most intelligent invertebrates, this astonishing animal is not only intelligent but also highly toxic. If it feels threatened, its rings light up several times a second. This is exactly what it does on the first piece in the Luminous Marine Life series. You'll be amazed.

Many octopuses can change their skin color and even their body shape in a flash. Special skin cells contain pigments with different color properties, some of which only reflect light in certain colors when it shines on them. This property is called "iridescence", which means that different colors appear on a surface depending on the angle of view. Muscular tension can cause these pigments to contract or expand, and so the blue-ringed octopus can change the color of its skin in certain places.

Another amazing thing about the octopus is that it not only has a central brain in its head, but also other brains in its eight tentacles. This allows octopuses to have everything under control at all times and to adapt very quickly to their environment. This is why octopuses are considered the most intelligent of all invertebrates. Despite being one of the most venomous marine animals in the world, the blue-ringed octopus can be found on bathing beaches in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and therefore regularly comes into contact with humans. The octopus signals its presence by the rapid flashing of its blue rings and is only dangerous to humans if it bites them, which only happens if it feels very threatened.

Coin pattern

An octopus with blue rings is printed in full color on the reverse of the coin. When the octopus is illuminated by UV light, its blue rings begin to glow and its body changes color from yellow-brown to green. Two peacock angelfish swim in the background. A wide band reminiscent of an old-fashioned porthole frames the aquatic scene. As on all the pieces in the series, to the left and below the octopus on the right are a shell and a starfish. The 12 magical sea creatures from the Luminous Marine Life series are silhouetted on the obverse of the coin. Air bubbles between them and a tail fin disappears beneath the waves on the right.