Tourist filmed holding a potentially deadly blue-ringed octopus

Social media users have reacted with shock and anger to a video of a tourist filming themselves holding a potentially deadly blue-ringed octopus.

In the video posted to Chinese social media app Tik Tok, the person filmed their hand with the octopus on sitting on it. They put it back in the water, but the octopus seemed to be stuck and they are seen shaking their hand to get the tiny, but deadly, sea creature off.

The video was then shared to Reddit Australia and attracted thousands of comments, ranging from concern to shock and even anger.

“When they started shaking their hand to get it off, I literally squealed. Nooooo, you're gonna piss it off!”, one user said.

“You can literally see they had no idea whatsoever. Was just a "pretty and cute" little octopus.” said another.

While others posted statistics about just how deadly the octopi are.

“The blue-ringed octopus, despite its small size, carries enough venom to kill 26 adult humans within minutes. No blue-ringed octopus anti-venom is available A Reddit user posted.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science states the chemical tetrodotoxin that sits in their glands is a strong, fast-acting toxin that paralyses the target by blocking the nerves from transmitting messages.

Victims die from a lack of oxygen after their lungs are paralysed.